The
Federal Government has called on companies to source their raw materials
locally as this will create markets for farmers, boost their income and employment.
Dr.
Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD)
made the call while commending Nestle Nigeria Plc for buying raw materials for
its seasoning, cereal and beverage product from local farmers.
Last
year alone, Nestle bought over 21,450 tonnes of maize, sorghum and soybean from
farmers under its Quality Grains Improvement Project.
A
breakdown of the figure showed that in 2013, the company purchased 9,780 tonnes
of maize, 5,340 tonnes of soybean and 6,330 tonnes of sorghum (totaling 21,450
tonnes) from farmers.
"I
am excited that you source raw materials for your maggi, golden morn and Milo
locally. I really commend you. As you buy them locally you create market for
farmers, you stablise price for them and you help them to improve their
standard of living and good agricultural practice; the multiplier effects on
the economy is enormous.
"I
want to say that this is an example for other companies in Nigeria to emulate,
to create market for all the products they produce here," said the
minister at Nestle factory Agbara, Ogun state.
"Nestle
is very key globally and domestically for us," he said.
The
Minister also urged the management of Nestle to key onto the ministry's High
Energy and Soybeans production project. "We are working on soybeans in
Nigeria; we want to launch a programme to produce one million metric tonnes of
soybeans annually. I would like to say that my ministry would be very pleased
to work with Nestle in terms of soybeans and maize expansion. Equally, we want
Nestle to join us on partnership for high energy food. High energy foods being
iported don't get here on time and they are very expensive. We are not going to
be market for all," said the minister.
The
managing director, Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, who conducted the
minister round the facility, disclosed that the plant is the largest in the
Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA) region, in terms of magi production and the
third largest in Milo production. He also explained that 10,000 farmers
including agricultural extension agents, farm village heads, farm family heads,
grain suppliers and transporters, have so far benefitted from the company's
quality grains improvement project.
According
to him, in order to ensure a sustainable supply of safe, high quality grains to
Nstle's factories and improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Nigeria,
the company launched Grains Quality Improvement Project in 2009.
"By
working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, we are
actually training farmers to follow good agricultural and storage practices
that reduce the risk of damage from naturally occurring mycotoxins and increase
yields, quality and market access for our local farmers," he said.
Source: http://allafrica.com/agriculture/?aa_source=main-nav-t1
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