Two Kano-based rice processors, Didi Rice Limited and Kura Brothers Limited, have launched their whole grain rice products, marking a significant step towards expanding access to locally produced nutritious rice for households and institutional markets.
The products were launched with support from TechnoServe Nigeria through the West African Fortified Parboiled Unpolished Rice (WAFPUR) Project) at an event in Kano that brought together representatives from government, the private sector, development organisations, traditional and religious institutions, consumer protection agencies and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
The launch comes amid growing concerns around nutrition and the need to increase access to nutritious food options. Stakeholders at the event described the introduction of whole grain rice as timely, particularly in addressing the burden of malnutrition and promoting healthier food choices.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Hajiya Umma Dalhatu, commended the two processors for taking the initiative to introduce Whole Grain Rice products to the market.
‘The launch of whole grain rice is timely, particularly in addressing the burden of malnutrition. We commend the processors for taking this important step and encourage continued collaboration to make nutritious food more accessible.’ Dalhatu said.
The launch also highlighted the journey undertaken by Didi Rice Limited and Kura Brothers Limited to develop their whole grain rice products and meet the required regulatory and quality standards, and the processors shared their experiences of undergoing product registration and certification processes with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).
Through the WAFPUR Project, TechnoServe has worked with local rice processors through continuous training, technical assistance and capacity building, helping to strengthen their capabilities in whole grain rice production and supporting their transition from product development to commercialisation.
Ayo Tella, Portfolio Lead, Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF), TechnoServe, commended the processors for translating the knowledge and capacity gained through the programme into products now available to consumers.
‘What we are celebrating today is the commitment of local processors to take what they have learned, build their capacity and turn it into products that consumers can access. We are proud to have supported Didi Rice and Kura Brothers on this journey.’ Tella stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of Didi Farms Limited, Alhaji Misbahu Lawal Didi, described the launch as a significant milestone in responding to changing consumer health needs, noting that whole grain processing would enable local millers to meet growing nutritional demands while strengthening regional agricultural value chains.
Beyond the product launch, the event provided an opportunity to connect the processors with potential markets. During a market-linkage and purchase session, distributors, institutional buyers and other stakeholders expressed interest in purchasing the products and establishing commercial relationships with the processors.
The session generated expressions of interest for more than 600 bags of whole grain rice, alongside additional interest from potential distributors and institutional buyers.
For Didi Rice Limited and Kura Brothers Limited, the launch represents an important milestone in its journey to produce and market whole grain rice products that respond to growing demand for nutritious food options.