Like the Lagos-Kebbi partnership that produced Lake rice, Cross River state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has hinted that the State is partnering with an investor for an ultra-modern rice mill in Ogoja Local Government Area, which will roll out its first wholly bagged rice by the end of December 2017.
Prof. Ayade stated this shortly after his arrival from a three weeks trip to Europe this week.
The governor said he held a meeting with an investor who has agreed to set up a processing plant in the state as the element is the future.
“Part of my trip itinerary was to inspect the manufacturing process of the rice mill which is the most sophisticated and digitalized facility you can ever find. It is the latest technology in rice processing in the world today,” said Ayade who disclosed that the state has paid for machinery and are currently “awaiting delivery by end of October while installation will commence as soon as the equipment arrives.
“Hopefully, Cross River State will have its own home grown, milled and ready for consumption rice by December.”
The governor added, “I agree with President, Muhammadu Buhari that we must think agriculture which is now yielding positive fruits across the country.
“Our major focus is on agriculture, solid minerals and to a lesser extent oil and gas. In Cross River State we had seen this coming which was why we set up food bank, cotton cultivation with the focus to support our garment factory as a strategy for backward integration. We must find any means to earn money other than oil and gas.”
BusinessAGENDA recalled that the groundbreaking of the ultramodern rice mill was performed the in November 2016 at Ogoja.
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