In keeping with his administration’s commitment to make the state a net exporter of rice, Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade recently spent about a week in Taiwan and Thailand acquring basic knowledge in the application of technology to grow rice.
One of the farms visited by the governor in Taiwan included the Chi-Ton Rice Nursery Centre located in Hueilei Village, Huwei Township, Yulin County, Taiwan.
Another farm that played host to the governor is the Zhao Shun Agricultural Machinery Limited.
It would be recalled that following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and Thai- African Corporation Limited, construction work has since commenced at the Calabar Rice City project.
Apart from the rice city, the Ayade-administration has begun the implementation of various rice schemes that will see to the cultivation of about 7000 hectres of rice.
The schemes involves at least one hundred thousand farmers.
Major off-takers and processors are already on the ground.
The goverment is also on the verge of establishing a mega rice mill in Bansara, Ogoja Local Government Area.
When completed, the Calabar Rice City, said to be the first in Africa, is expected to serve as a training institute, as well as a nursury for rice seedlings.
Speaking on how the technology works, Ayade said: “It will focus on innovative tool through the growing of specialised seedlings which will undergo some form of research and development.”
The governor further disclosed that “with the improved technology which comes by way of almost full automation, it will help produce seedlings that is already germinated in 18 days, matured, properly prepared and ready for application directly to the farm.”
Ayade hinted that three core investors will be procuring from the Rice City in Calabar, taking the specie to Bansara in the Northern Senatorial District, Abi and Obubra in the central and Odukpani in the south.
He said a processing mill will be established in Bansara, Ogoja Local Government Area where rice will processed for export.
Acknowledging that the project located close to the airport and the proposed deep seaport remains special, the governor added: “You have more effective use, less manual application and it is an avenue to avoid the old ways where farmers farm in vain while middle men take all the profit.”
Worried by the huge amount spent on importation of rice into the country, Ayade said “with the technology and innovation that is coming and with the rapid production of seedlings that we are doing, we are definitely going to take up more than 50 percent of the market share of rice in the sub region.”
On possible employment opportunities, Ayade explained that when the project, designed as a luxury with African-like architecture, motel to accommodate students on research and training on genetics of rice, while advancing knowledge on agronomy, finally takes off, it will provide between 2000 3000 jobs.
