Nigeria: Anambra Signs MOU On Rice Production

Vanguard (Lagos)

Awka — In a bid to boost rice production, the government of Anambra is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vietnam Africa Agricultural Development Company (VAADC) to begin mechanised production of rice.

Chief Godson Ezenagu, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, made the pronouncement, yesterday in Awka, when the management team of the company paid him a courtesy visit.

He said that the agreement, which is under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) would lead to the cultivation of 10,000 hectares of farmland in the state.

He expressed government's readiness to partner with the company for the transfer of technology, boost rice production and save foreign exchange lost by Nigeria on rice importation.

"Rice production is one of the major sub-programmes of Governor Peter Obi's initiative, which we intend to take very seriously in the state," he said.

Ezenagu said that the cultivation of 10,000 hectares of ricefarm in the state could feed the entire South- East states and have enough for export to other African countries.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Kurtis Nwadikwa, said they were in the state to confer with the government on how to make Anambra the pioneer commercial rice producer in Nigeria.