Moses Uwagbale
The Federal Government has entered into partnership with Crown Flour Mill (OLAM grains) to expand the production capacity of wheat in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Muhammad Nanono, who made this known in a statement by Mohammed Gana, Information Officer II in the ministry on Sunday in Abuja, expressed delight in the interest shown by OLAM grains.
The minister said that the initiative would reduce wheat importation, enhance food security and nutrition, conserve scarce foreign exchange and create jobs.
The Minister disclosed this when the management of the company led by its Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms. Damilola Adeniyi paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Nanono said the Ministry has put in place deliberate measures to ensure the increase in wheat production capacity including, the provision of quality seeds and in the distribution of agricultural inputs to Nigerian farmers.
The minister said that the ministry would support the group in its development efforts.
He said with the intervention by Crown Flour Mills and other interventions such as those of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) , Transformation for Africa Agricultural Technologies (TAAT) and the Wheat Compact Project , Nigeria would experience a sustainable sufficiency in the local production of wheat.
In her remarks, Adeniyi , said that the purpose of the visit was to update the Minister on the group’s activities and to seek collaboration with the Ministry to leverage on Nigeria’s wheat growing potentials by bringing in new seed varieties and modern technology to facilitate growth and expansion of wheat production in the country.
Adeniyi said that the company plans to introduce the findings of a research trials it conducted recently on the cultivation of a heat tolerant variety of wheat.
She expressed optimism that the process would boost local production of wheat, increase quantity and improve quality .
Adeniyi also informed the minister that the Crown Flour Mills has been involved in various developmental efforts such as research and seed trials, capacity building in modern agricultural practices, distribution of inputs, among others.
She said the developmental efforts targets small holder wheat farmers and key players in the wheat production value chain.
Adeniyi said as one of its corporate social responsibilities, the group is committed to the sustained training of Nigerian wheat farmers, provision of quality seeds for increased production and also in the patronage of their produce.
