The Lagos State Government has taken a significant step towards enhancing food security and agricultural productivity in the state by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Limited, a leading Chinese food processing company.
The partnership aims to increase productivity in the rice value chain and improve agricultural productivity in Lagos State.
The MoU was signed during Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s visit to China, where he was accompanied by officials from the Lagos State Government.
Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Agriculture (Rice Mill Initiative), signed the agreement on behalf of the Lagos State Government, while Wang Wei, Group Director, Rice Industry Division, Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Limited, signed for the Chinese company.
The collaboration is expected to boost rice production and agricultural productivity in Lagos State, aligning with the Sanwo-Olu administration’s goal of achieving food security and agricultural revolution.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of investing in agriculture, stating, “We realize that we have the capacity to feed ourselves as a people, if we put the right investment in agriculture.”
The Lagos State Government has prioritized agricultural value chains, with a focus on rice production.
The Imota Rice Mill, a 32-metric-tonne per hour capacity rice mill, is expected to provide 1,500 direct jobs and over 250,000 indirect jobs.The mill has the capacity to produce 2.8 million bags of 50 kg bags of rice yearly.
Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Limited is a leading food processing company in China, operating an integrated rice business covering the rice value chain, from cultivation to processing and distribution of milled rice.
The partnership with Lagos State Government is expected to leverage the company’s expertise and resources to enhance agricultural productivity and food security in the state.
The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Prashant Trikha, Group Head of Rice, Wilmar Group, and demonstrates the commitment of the Lagos State Government to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in the state.
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