(Ecofin Agency) - As part of efforts to further boost the Federal Government’s agriculture effort, BUA Rice Ltd, a subsidiary of BUA Group of Companies, has signed a partnership agreement with Kano and Jigawa Rice Farmers Association to develop an efficient outgrowers scheme.

According to the Group Executive Director, Strategy and Innovation, Kabiru Rabiu, BUA is committed to the government’s programme of reducing the country’s dependency on rice imports by increasing local production, processing and packaging capacity. This programme is expected to drive BUA’s rice processing capacity from 200,000 tonnes to one million tonnes within the next four years.

He said the project, once operational, will entail the supply of improved seeds, technical expertise, milling and processing infrastructure, by the company, to boost value chain.

Rabiu added that the partnership will also allow rice farmers to take advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrower Scheme.

Anita Fatunji