Ogun State has achieved a significant milestone in rice production, generating ₦1 billion in revenue within just three months of 2024. This success is attributed to the state’s ambitious rice revolution under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s leadership.
The state recently completed harvesting rice from a 200-hectare pilot project at Magboro Rice Farm in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area. With an impressive yield of 7 metric tons per hectare, the project produced approximately 1,400 metric tons of rice, equating to 20,000 bags of milled rice. This output is expected to bring in about ₦1 billion every three months.
The Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, supported by the World Bank, aims to expand this initiative significantly. Governor Abiodun plans to scale up production to 2,000 hectares and ultimately 5,000 hectares, projecting quarterly revenues between ₦10 billion and ₦25 billion.
The project has not only contributed to the state’s economy but also fostered job creation and improved livelihoods, especially for youths and women involved in the farming process. Governor Abiodun highlighted that each farmer in the project is allocated one hectare, and the successful harvest within three months demonstrates the potential for repeated cycles throughout the year.
Governor Abiodun emphasized the broader impact of the project, stating, “We have no business being hungry in Nigeria,” and reaffirmed Ogun State’s commitment to contributing to national food security while driving economic growth.