NAN-AE-3
Rice
By Mercy Obojeghren
Asaba, Feb. 17, 2017 (NAN) The demand for local rice has continued to increase, an indication that Nigerians are beginning to appreciate local rice, says Mr Raymos Guanah, the Chief Executive Officer of Raymos Guanah Farms.
Guanah told the News Agency of NAN) on Friday in Asaba patronage of locally produced rice was very high, adding that Nigerians now preferred locally produced rice to the imported variety.
“Nigerians are beginning to be more aware that there is so much difference between locally produced rice and imported rice.’’
He explained that his farm recorded high patronage in the last three years.
“In 2014, we harvested 300 tonnes, 600 tonnes in 2015 and 900 tonnes in 2016.
“As I speak with you now, nothing is left, we were able to sell all of them.’’
Guanah, who was a former Commissioner for Lands in Delta, noted that his farm recorded high patronage because it was able to achieve “no stone, no sand rice.’’
He said the farm was targeting 3,000 tonnes of rice in 2017 due to the increase in demand for the commodity.
Guanah urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend its Anchor Borrowers’ programme to other farmers who had the capacity to engage in mechanised farming and not limit it to only cooperative societies.
According to him, there are some big farmers, who own large expanse of farm land and can cultivate much more area of land than many cooperative societies. (NAN)
MOA/JEY/NKO
===========
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Nkechi Okoronkwo
===========================================