By Peter Egwuatu
SORGHUM production in Nigeria received a boost with the successful commissioning of Food Agro and Allied Industries Limited’s 30,000 ton per annum malting plant in Otta, Ogun State. The operation and further expansion plan of the state of the art plant is expected to encourage more Nigerians to take up commercial production of sorghum.

The completed malting plant with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum, 150,000 metric tonnes storage silos and 15,000 tonnes per annum malt extract plant, is a huge step of the company’s plan towards developing credible technology to process home grown sorghum to substitute imported barley derivatives.

Mr. Alaiye Gbenga, Director Administration, Food Agro and Allied Industries Limited, disclosed this saying:  “Our company is acquiring a 5,000 hectare farm land soon to establish model farms to showcase its technology and produce quality seeds of improved varieties of sorghum. The farms will also provide technical support to out-growers to ensure viable production that meets quality and quantity requirements.”

Food Agro and Allied Industries Ltd is an active partner with USAID and NGOs in development of sorghum production in respect of quality yield per hectare and providing market for the growers.

“Our belief in the potentials of the Nigeria agricultural sector informed the huge investment in modern malting technologies, recruitment and training of qualified manpower, and adequate infrastructures to support production and processing of raw materials to meet the needs of the Nigerian food and beverage industry.

We believe that our efforts will help boost the supply chain in the agricultural sector. We call on relevant authorities to encourage indigenous sorghum production by revisiting the issue of low import duties on imported Sorghum and barley malts.”

With the expected commissioning of Malt Extract Plant in 2012, the company will enter into another phase, also pursuing its expansion plan of increasing production from 30,000 tonnes per annum to 48,000 tonnes per annum in 2012 and 60,000 tonnes per annum by 2014.