Brainfield Agro Limited under the chairmanship of Mr. Olukayode Ajala, is set to change the face of agro business in Oyo State. The multimillion naira rice mill plant has commenced operations. The plant, located at Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, has the capacity of producing 25 tonnes of rice per day, and even more as demand increases.
Without being immodest, everything about this plant is just fascinating. From its location (it is located right on Ido-Eruwa Road) to the high tech machines and all. It is, no doubt, one of its kind in the whole of the South Western part of Nigeria.
This is not just a rice processing plant but one with special focus on Ofada rice and a clear vision, to set Oyo State on the map of a major rice producing state.
Little wonder the Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo State, Hon. Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle described the project a laudable one.
The commissioner, who was on facility tour of the rice processing plant last week, was amazed with the level of preparedness and commitment of the company.
He didn’t only commend the initiative of Chairman of Brainfield Agro Limited Mr. Olukayode Ajala, for deeming it fit to set up such a gigantic rice processing factory in Ibadan, but also assured of government’s support
Hon. Ojekunle disclosed that the state will give necessary support to ensure smooth operation of the plant.
Brainfield Agro Limited, a subsidiary of Brainfield Consult Limited, is a rice processing plant with a mission to create a market niche for Ofada rice production in Oyo State, Nigeria and overseas.
The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Abayomi Oladipo, in a brief chat with journalists shortly before the commencement of the facility tour, disclosed that the firm has in its possession, a rice processing machine which is the largest in the whole of South West, with production capacity of 25 tonnes per day.
He further said that Brainfield, which is sited on two acres of land along Ido-Eruwa road, has 12 hectares of land within Ido Local Government with over 100 farmers working to make Oyo State one of the major rice producing states in the country.
Abayomi, a Quality Assurance and Safety Consultant, maintained that the rice plant is exploring fresh innovative approach to improve rice production through modern technology.
He reiterated the commitment of the firm to work in direction of the state government’s policy to create job opportunities through agriculture.
Oladipo, a Zoology graduate of University of Ibadan, added that negotiation is ongoing to secure another 300 hectares of land in Ido and 500 hectares of land in Osogbo with focus on recruiting over 200 farmers; not only to meet up with production capacity of the firm, but also to engage more youths in agric business.
In his remarks, Oyo State Director, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Mr. Dambaba Nehemiah, said that it is one of the duties of the institute to give necessary support to any Nigerian that wants to invest in the rice sector.
He maintained that the institute decided to give technical support to Brainfield Agro Limited because it is the only indigenous rice processing plant that is focussing one hundred percent cent on Ofada rice production.
Mr. Nehemiah, a rice scientist, disclosed that Ofada rice production was a major area of rice production that the institute has expended so much, in terms of research from laboratory to the commercial level, hence the decision of the Executive Director of the institute to give necessary supports, including quality analysis, technical advice, product examination, as well as market advice to make sure the company succeeds.
-Dare Adeniran
