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Akwa Ibom State has now joined other states of federation including Kebbi and Ebonyi states in the production of local rice in line with the industrialisation policy of Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration.
The long grain rice christened; ‘Family Rice’ was formally presented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Dr. Charles Udoinyang, to the governor and cabinet members during the State Executive Council meeting of the state.
The commissioner explained that the made-in-Akwa Ibom brand of rice “is cultivated, processed and packaged in Akwa Ibom under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement administration reached with a private agro-allied firm, Agricon”.
He said the rice was cultivated on a 600 hectares of farmland located at the green land of Ini Local Government Area of the state.
Emmanuel, who was excited over the break-through in rice production in the state, commended the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture in local rice production.
He said his administration had lived up to its determination of making food available and affordable to the citizens, adding that the arrival of the rice was timely and would help crash the exorbitant price of rice and other staples in the state.
He commended the Ministry of Agriculture for working in collaboration with the Technical Committee on Food Sufficiency to lead the drive towards all-year-round food availability and affordability in the state.
He acknowledged that rice and garri production “are the major milestone reached in agricultural interventions in the state.
He said: “These are indications that the state government is able to feed its citizens by bringing down the cost of garri and followed it up with rice”.
He reiterated his administration’s resolve to ensure that 80 percent of food consumed in Akwa Ibom were locally produced, noting that the success of agricultural revolution could be attributed to good climate and efficient workforce.
According to him, this is not a drawing board, this is not a concept; it is something that is done and tested. The rice is grown, processed and bagged in Akwa Ibom State.
While expressing his satisfaction with the steps taken to produce rice in the state, the governor pronounced that the rice mill would be officially inaugurated on July 11, 2018.
Also at the presentation, the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Food Sufficiency, Prof. Edet Udoh explained that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was reached with the Agricon firm on July 16, 2016, while actual production commenced in May 2017.