Anambra govt. revamps abandoned rice mill, targets 613,000 tons annually

By James Eze

The Anambra State Government has moved its flourishing agricultural investments a step further, by revamping and handing over the old Umumbo rice mill  to JOSAN integrated farms and Mills ltd, with a target of producing  613,000 metric tons of rice annually.

Governor Willie Obiano at the rice mill

Governor Willie Obiano reaffirmed this at the weekend, during a tour of JOSAN Giant Rice Mill in Umumbo in Ayamelum Council of Anambra State.

The Umumbo Rice Mill built during the reign of former President Shehu Shagari had been abandoned for decades until the Obiano administration handed it over to JOSAN Integrated Farms and Mills Ltd in 2017.

Addressing the gathering at the Mill, Governor Obiano recalled that when he assumed office in 2014, total rice production in the state stood at 80,000 metric tons per annum but as at today Anambra produces 302,000 metric tons per annum.

"We want to move to 613, 000 metric tons in the next three planting seasons. And to be able to achieve that, we must renovate the irrigation system in Omor also in Ayamelum Council Area, in partnership with the federal government," Governor Obiano explained.

He further revealed that JOSAN Rice Mill in Umumbo had a capacity to produce 50,000 metric tons of rice but that his administration had plans to beef up the production output of the mill to 100,000 metric tons.

According to him, revamping the moribund irrigation project would guarantee year-round rice production in the Ayamelum agricultural belt and boost the overall output in rice production in the state.

Governor Obiano expressed confidence that when fully reactivated the Omor irrigation project would add vigour to the ongoing agricultural revolution in the state.