Katsina local rice millers cry for modern machines

Local rice millers/processors in Katsina State have attributed their inability to produce a well refined and polished rice to lack of modern processing machines.
One of the rice millers in Dandume Local Government Area Malam Sani Usman, said even though they are improving greatly on the quality of their parboiled rice, the imported one will continue to be more attractive to buyers unless modern processing machines are in place.
“Many decades ago, local rice processing involved the use of motar and pestle but nowadays we are using improvised grinding machines to process it; after parboiling the paddy rice, we dry it in the open hence its end users are complaining of stones and other unwanted particles in it. But the modern processing machine has a component of a mechanised boiler, drier  that will make the rice well refined and clean,” Sani Usman said.
He further said unlike the locally improvised grinding machine, the costly nature of the modern rice processor makes it difficult for small and medium income earner to acquire it.
He, therefore, called for the intervention of government and other agricultural companies in the provision of the machines on loan basis as well as equipping the operator with its basic operational know-how.
Another rice miller in Bakori, Mansur Nabara’u, said with the new machine, their work will become less tedious compared with the grinding machines in use now.
“The process involves soaking and boiling of the paddy rice after which we dry it under the sun. After it dried, we take it to the grinding machine; the level of which it is cooked and how well it is dried determine its freshness and quality after grinding,” said Nabara’u.
He added that with the modern machine designed purposely for rice milling, all the processes would be easier and with regulation.
A rice consumer interviewed at Dandume market, Mohammed Bashir, said the only problem with the local rice is purity that is why many people prefer the imported one despite its high cost.
“Despite the taste, aroma and the nutritional value our local rice has over the imported one, we still prefer the imported because it is more refined. Small stones, rice pads and other particles commonly seen in our locally processed rice are making many consumers to avoid it. It will be of great benefit to local consumers and rice exporters if modern rice processing machines are introduced,” Mohammed Bashir explained.
Daily Trust observed that there are over 200 grinding machines used for rice processing in Dandume and its environs.There are many others in Funtua, Bakori, Danja and Kafur local government areas, where rice is predominantly cultivated in the state.