C/River sets up rice seedlings multiplication lab

The Cross River State government has set up a rice lab called Rice City Laboratory in Calabar, the state capital.

The lab is set up for the multiplication of improved rice seedlings for farmers.

To this end, the state is to engage Thailand to provide technical knowhow on the workability of the project.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Peter Egba, who disclosed this when journalists were shown round the laboratory, said the state was already working with companies and experts in Thailand to ensure the success of the project.

Egba said the facilities at the laboratory would make rice production more digitalised and readily available in the country.

According to him, “The technology is that hybrid seedlings are planted in such a way that you could fold it like a carpet, take it to your farm and spread.”

Explaining further, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, the Commissioner for Information, said the rice city laboratory will help Nigeria become a dependable producer of rice.