BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT – FEDERAL government is to stop importation of rice for local consumption by 2015, says Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
The Minister spoke weekend in Rivers state during a tour of Notore industrial complex, Onne. He said the government had evolved measures to ensure the nation's food security would notbe at risk. He said by 2015 the nation would grow sufficient rice for local consumption.
According to him, part of the transformation plan of the federal government was to focus on the whole value chain in agriculture, adding thatthe government would also grow the seed sector in the country.
The Minister who expressed satisfaction with Notore plant said hewas hopeful that with what he saw at the plant the nation should hit 600,000metric tonnes of fertilizer from local production
He said the federal government had resolved that agriculture would no longer be a mere project but anissue to be heavily invested in. Stressing that with sufficient fertilizers inplace farmers would grow better yields in the country.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Notore Chemical Industries limited, MrOnajite Okoloko said the firm would soon hit 50% production of fertilizerneeded locally. According to him, the firm would increaseproduction to about 2 million metric tons, adding that it had sealed up plansto expound its capacity by 2015.
"Notore hasachieved nameplate capacity recently in reaching the highest levels ofrecording a daily production of 1489 MT of Urea from January 2012 and 994 MT ofAmmonia in February 2012. After successful completion of scheduled turnaroundmaintenance in 2011, the plant has experienced improved performance and increasedconsistency of operations, and Notore is working to sustain these records", he said.
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