Chinese Firm Plans $300m Rice Project In Nigeria

A Chinese Company,
Hellog Jiang Pingyuan Rice Group has proposed a $300 million rice project in Nigeria.
According to a release made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt recently, the facilitator of the meeting and the consular-General of Nigeria in China, Ambassador Ali Ocheni said some states namely, Imo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom had shown interest in the proposal which transfers technology, apart from making profits.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Chinese group, Mr. Wang Jing Xin disclosed the proposal when he led a delegation of the company to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja.
The company according to the release, apart from the investment would also collaborate with the ministry in building a research institute, help local farmers to improve themselves and equally provide job and opportunities to Nigerians.
Responding, the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh stated the need to take every step to ensure that states in Nigeria partner with the company on the proposed rice project. He stated that an expanse of  land earlier mapped out for vice production in Bayelsa State would be considered for the project.
The minister said Kebbi, Zamfara and Ogun States respectively could be encouraged to collaborate with the company.
He also requested the Chinese firm to consider the production of vegetables.
Chief Ogbeh said agriculture was not only about relying on rain fall but also irrigation and advised the company to think along irrigation projects since Nigeria does a lot of dry season farming.
He said villages should be included in the our grower programme so that they could sell their products to the company.