Coscharis and Obiano embark on Multimillion Rice farming as Obiano Tours Coched Farms, Assures of More Agro-Investors

www.odogwublog.com reports that the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie

Obiano yesterday took a tour of Coched Farms in Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area and assured that the State would soon attract more prominent investors in the agricultural sector.

Hinting that Dangote may soon join the array of prominent investors looking for a foothold in the agricultural sector of the state, Governor Obiano further revealed that negotiations are going with some consulting firms in the Netherlands and Australia for the construction of an irrigation project that would support a three- cycle planting season in the area.

According to him, the state is on course to achieving food sufficiency in rice production and contributing significantly to efforts to reduce the rice supply deficit in the country.

Governor Obiano made this declaration recently while inspecting the 300-hectare rice field belonging to Coched Farms Limited, a subsidiary of Coscharis Limited, in Anaku, Ayamelum LGA of the state.

Coched Farms Limited, which is the largest commercial farm in the state with a total of 2,800 hectares of land for rice farming with a lake from which water is channelled to all parts for irrigation purposes.

Governor Obiano who spoke after touring the farm, observed that the project, a joint venture between the state government and Coched Farms, has within months of operation, put on ground significant efforts despite the enormous cost of clearing the land and creating access routes to all parts.

The Governor who noted that the state is at present producing 20,000 metric tons of Rice against the 300,000 metric tons that is consumed in the state, creating a gap of 240,000 metric tons, said when fully operational, the farm would produce about 150,000while the production by out-grower farmers is expected to overturn the remaining deficit.

He expressed delight that the project is presently employing over one hundred and fifty people of Anaku Origin, adding that the government is fully exploring the potentials that abound in the state Agriculture sector to create abundant jobs and wealth creation opportunities for NdiAnambra.

Governor Obiano who noted that the state Government is partnering Joseph’s Agro in a two hundred million Dollar rice project at Omasi in Ayamelum, further  calling on other investors to key into the opportunities provided by the large expanse of arable land to invest in the state.      

The Chairman, Coscharis Group, Chief CosmasMaduka said they are collaborating with out-growers who they are providing improved rice seedlings and who in turn, is expected to produce 50% cent of the total production target required by the Rice Mill they would be constructing soon, adding that when it operates at full capacity, the total land area of the farm would be 508 Square kilometres.

On his part, the General Manager of the farm, Mr Bharat Dhir explained that the farm was constructed according to international standards, while every part of the farm has been well irrigated to support the full scale rice production.

Pix: (L-R) Hon. Rita Maduagwu, Speaker, Anambra State House of
Assembly, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor Anambra State and Mr. Cosmas
Maduka, Chairman, Coched Farms during the governor's tour of Coched
Farms Limited, Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area...yesterday