The government of Benin Republic has granted 30,000 hectares of land to a Nigerian company, Labana Rice Mills, for rice cultivation in that country.
Alhaji Abdullahi Idris-Zuru, the company’s General Manager, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.
He stated that in 2022, the company would finance farmers in the country through the Benin Republic Government to produce 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice during the dry season.
“A total of 30,000 hectares of farmland are being made accessible in Benin Republic to Labana Rice Mills for rice cultivation,” Idris-Zuru stated.
“These resolutions were made during a joint meeting of Beninous Government officials and a delegation from Labana Rice Mills last weekend in Cotonou, the country’s capital.”
“The meeting with the Labana delegation, led by Chairman Abubakar Abbah-Adamu, was presided over by Mr Gaston Dossouhoui, Minister of Agriculture of Benin.”
He stated that the farmland was granted by the Beninouis government following an assessment of the company’s rice mills and farms in Kebbi, Nigeria.
“The report has persuaded the government of Labana Rice Mills’ capacity to be a dependable agricultural partner,” the general manager added.
He stated that the company’s chairman, Abbah-Adamu, expressed gratitude for the Benin government’s trust and confidence in Labana rice mills, as well as the government and people of Nigeria.