Paddy Scarcity Hits Kano as Rice Millers Shut Down Operations

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Chairman of Northern Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Mr. Dalhatu Abubakar, has lamented the scarcity of paddy rice in Kano.

Speaking with journalists in Kano yesterday, Abubakar, who is also the chairman, Al-Hamsad Integrated Rice Mill, explained that the implication of paddy scarcity would force an increase in the price of finished rice. 

Abubakar explained that several millers have cut down production from 24 to 12 hours while laying off factory workers who have been rendered redundant.

He urged for federal and state governments’ intervention on the area of mechanisation and to assist farmers with input that would enable all year round production.

“Today hundreds of millers both the integrated and small scale are in serious dilemma and finding it extremely difficult to break even. It is difficult to sustain production now because of scarcity of paddy. As I speak, I know many millers that have completely closed their factories,” he said.

According to him, “those that are yet to close because they still have limited paddy in their reserve cannot operate 24 hours. Like me, I have reduced my production to 12 hours because I don’t have paddy. By implication, several workers will be rendered jobless.

“Where ever you see paddy now, you buy it at exorbitant prize and you will still be compelled to face high cost of fuel, pay tax, electricity bill. How many factory would survive this hard economy? The only hard way now is the cost of finished rice which Nigerians will soon face.”

Abubakar further lamented that apart from dearth of the raw material, larger percentage of integrated rice millers in Kano are presently sourcing paddy at exorbitant prize now at N400,000 per tonne.