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Silvex International assures of making Kogi proud in processing high quality Premium brand Confluence Rice
… As Kogi Assembly Speaker, other members visit Mill, sues for patronage of local rice farmers.
The Chief Executive Officer of the new owners of Confluence Rice, Abubakar Sadiq Karfi, has assured that it is working to translate the original vision of the Kogi State Government by ensuring that it produces high quality Premium brand Confluence Rice that is of high quality.
The CEO said the new Confluence Rice it is processing at the Ejiba Rice Mill, promises to be unique so as to enable it have a market leadership and put Kogi State on the global map of rice production.
The CEO of Silvex International made the disclosure when the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Umar Aliyu Yusuf made a stop over alongside some Members of the Assembly at the Confluence Rice Factory, located at Ejiba.
The CEO assured that very soon people will no longer be talking about Confluence Rice only in Kogi State but it would be known nationwide.
The CEO who alongside the Chief Operating Officer of Silvex International, Abubakar Ibrahim, called for the support of the State Assembly to enable it translate the vision of the State Government, with the promise that all things being equally as planned, the factory would in the next six months, be producing 1000 bags of rice per day.
They assured of the factory going into direct rice cultivation, helping to arrange financing for Rice farmers, provide them with necessary inputs, extension facilities, insurance as well as provide farmers with improved seed varieties that is flood tolerant.
They assured that they have a proposal to the State Government to sale Confluence Rice at zero margin, especially for the civil servants to be able to pay over a period of time between three to four months.
They disclosed further that a new design of the Confluence Rice sacks are ready to be received in the State, pointing out that what they are currently doing is a skeletal operation until they achieve the quality of premium Rice they desire.
Presently they disclosed that some expertriates from Indian have just arrived the State and a plant manager expected, added there is a transition plan of one year for which the experts will hand over the technical know how to the locals from Kogi State.
Directly, Silvex International said on their payroll, they currently have 84 people are currently working in the factory site who have been on salary’s that is far above the current National minimum wage in the last four months.
While noting that upon taking over the Rice factory, it noticed a huge gap in technical deficiency, making them to install some machines that were not hitherto available, said they have written to intimate the State Government informing them of the challenges they are facing upon the acceptance of the contract, asked for the support of the Assembly.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Umar Aliyu Yusuf advised Silvex International of the need to explore places in Kogi State for their rice without necessarily going outside the State.
The Speaker mentioned areas like Kupa, Kakanda areas, Ibaji, Girinya, Koto, Bassa amongst other places rich in the production of rice, urged them to take advantage of the ongoing rice production season now in the State to partner with rice farmers.
The Speaker advised them to also invest in dry season farming by encouraging the farmers in the State, described the investment in dry season farming as a sure bet for their raw materials, particularly after the receding of the water.
The Speaker expressed optimism that the value chain of the rice production which is the concern of the lawmakers should be reflected on the lives of the people of the State, pointing out that the State has in large quantities the raw materials and market for rice processing.
He called for a detailed report from the Silvex International upon taking over the facility and also on the need for the Assembly to have a meeting with the investor’s to iron out noticed grey areas and opportunities that should abound for the State and it people.
He said the visit was to confirm that the Investor are on site and to seek ways on how farmers and people of the State would benefit from the value chain, urged on the need to patronise the Locals at market price.
He assured that the expected meeting would help the Assembly to direct the Government on the necessary mechanism that will be put in place that will allow them buy their raw materials at market price directly from Kogi people, as well as sensitize the people through the traditional institutions, community leaders and other avenues that there is a policy in place not to sale their produce outside the State but to sale within, with the necessary incentives that will help reduce their cost as well to encourage them to more production.
Highlights of the visit by the Speaker and his entourage was a facility tour of the Confluence Rice Mill now operated by Silvex International.
