In a bid to ameliorate poverty and reduce the rate of unemployment, a newly established first indigenous rice processing and milling company in Imo State, Diva World Trading Services, has said it targets to employ over 1000 workers at full production capacity.
The Managing Director of the multimillion naira industry, Ifeyinwa Mba, disclosed this at a world press conference held at the company’s factory, Mgbidi, in Oru West Council Area of the state at the weekend.
Mba said that while the company currently produces 300 bags per day, it would get to 1000 bags of 50kg by the end of 2022.
She added that the company’s aim was also to boost food production in the state and across the country to complement the efforts of the government in food availability and affordability.
Mba regretted the challenges faced by small-scale business owners in the country and appealed to the government at all levels to prioritise support for genuine investors and young entrepreneurs.
She said: “Being a woman in this kind of business most times discourages me and is very challenging, like the way a lot of men treat me. Most times, when I ask them to do something for me, they cheat me because I am a woman. It hurts me so much that I will ask: can you do this to a fellow man?
“When I started this business, I use to buy rice from Sokoto. The man so dealt with me. He would give me half rice, half stone. When I complained, he would say, “Madam, try and sell it. They will buy it like that.”
“So, if you are a woman coming in this business, you have to have extra heart or you will be pushed out.
“Also, I want to appeal to the government to give people like us, the small business owners, priority to grow.”
She also urged Nigerians, especially the youths, to venture into agriculture as a sustainable and viable means of livelihood and economic growth, stressing that food production remained the most lucrative business currently in the country.
According to her, “one can never go wrong going into food business or agriculture. For instance, if you look at the rate of rice consumption in the country, you will actually know that we are into a very lucrative business. I don’t think there is any business that pays more than agriculture. And I have not regretted it since I went into food production.”
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