NATE, FIIRO introduce local rice de-stoning machine

Dr. Gloria Elemo, the Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research in Oshodi, Lagos State, says lifting the ban on rice importation will have negative impact on local rice production.
Elemo said this during the official unveiling of Rice De-Stoning Machine designed and fabricated by the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering in Lagos.
She said that the machine came at a proper time when government was aiming at diversification the resource base of the economy economy from oil to other sectors like agriculture.
Elemo said: “Lifting the ban on rice importation will negate all efforts being put in place to see that local rice production and processing in the country are increased.
“Rice is a palatable food if eaten with convenience, without stones and so today history is being made with the unveiling of rice de-stoning machine by NATE.
“The machine will be a commercial success in the country because of the favourable market and the policy on patronising made-in-Nigeria products.”
Elemo said that farmers in Kebbi with the support of Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria were able to produce one million metric tons of rice in 2015, a feat the lifting of ban would negate.
She, therefore, called on stakeholders to come together to promote technological advancement for the nation’s growth.
Emmanuel Adesina, the Vice President of NATE, said that the production of the machine was an initiative of the association to enhance the growth and development of engineering infrastructure.
Adesina said the machine would also help to develop the capacity of engineering personnel which would go a long way in employment generation and reduction of poverty.
He said: “Today’s technological advancement holds enormous promises to reduce farmers unit cost, enhance management ability, reduce environmental footprint and enable superior information management to benefit the entire value chain.
“Mechanisation is often overlooked in analysing challenges of feeding the country, if well utilised, it will bring about massive employment opportunities and boost the country foreign exchange.”
Adesina urged the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria to see engineering innovation as proof of competence which allowed for equal authority in engineering designs and consultation.
Kasim Ali, the COREN President, said that knowledge resided in everyone and would yield good results once it was put together.
Ali said if Kebbi State could achieve the feat of one million metric tons of rice in a year, the state would go far with the invention of rice de-stoning machine.
He said that lifting the ban on importation of rice would have negative impact in the processing and production of rice in the country.
Ali said: “If people are afraid to eat local rice because of stones, they should fear no more because NATE has come with the solution.”
Ahmed Yabagi, the NATE National President, said the solution being sought by Nigerian rice processors for affordable machine for rice production had been provided by NATE.
Yabagi said: “The cost of importing foreign rice de-stoning machine is N2 million, but now NATE has made it available with N600, 000 in Nigeria.
“Once commercial production of these machines commences, the presence of stones in our local rice will soon fade away and Nigerians can gladly embrace local rice varieties.
“The advantages will come in form of drastic reduction in importation of rice and consequent foreign exchange savings and increase in local rice production.”