Obi, Nasarawa State (Nigeria): The Nasarawa State Government has sealed a strategic partnership with Silvex International to process and market 3,300 hectares of rice harvested from its Jangwa/Agwatashi farm, branding the produce as NASACCO Rice.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who announced the deal during the commencement of the harvest season, stated that the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to practical agriculture, economic diversification, and youth empowerment, engaging over 570 young people directly in the farming operation.
He said that Silvex International, a rice processing company, had agreed to mill, bag and brand the produce as NASACCO Rice, named after the Nasarawa Agro Commodity Company.
Sule explained that the state’s investment in rice production was aimed at promoting real agricultural practice rather than political gestures.
“Silvex has rice mills in Kogi and Abuja, but no farms. They usually buy from the open market, but we asked them to buy directly from us.
“For us, this is not just about promoting agriculture through tractors, herbicides or fertilisers. We decided to go beyond that and get involved in physical agriculture,” he said.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the yield, describing the harvest as encouraging.
“Last year, we cultivated 2,000 hectares, and this year, we cleared an additional 1,300 hectares, making it 3,300. By God’s grace, next season, we plan to expand by another 2,000 hectares to reach over 5,000 hectares,” he said.
Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, Chief Operations Officer of Silvex International, commended Gov. Sule for his commitment to transforming the agricultural value chain in the state.
He described Jangwa rice as high-quality and said the variety produced in the state ranked among the best in the country.
Silvex is an integrated agribusiness with a daily processing capacity of over 460 metric tonnes, equivalent to more than 15 truckloads from our two factories located near Nasarawa State.
“One of our significant challenges has been sourcing quality paddy at competitive prices. Fortunately, we have found a reliable partner in Nasarawa State.
“Beyond taxes and value addition, the state will also share in the profits from this venture,” he said.
