SON Unveils Rice Processing Template

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it has developed new standards for rice seed harvest, milling, drying and hygiene practice for processing of rice in the country.

Director General (DG) of the organisation, Barr. Osita Aboloma said this at the Nigeria Investment Forum orgainised by the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by the Head, Federal Capital Office, Dr. Barth Ugu, the SON boss said the standard developed in 2016 was to improve the quality of paddy and milled rice.

He said total compliance with the standard would ensure zero rejection of the country’s agricultural products at the interactional market.

The DG listed some of the quality parameters embedded in the standard to include germination, huskless seed, pesticide, residue packaging, labeling and storage, amongst other.

“There is no way standard can be compromised and that is why the set standards must be carried out to the letter.

“Starting from the germination stage to the proper application of pesticide and down to harvesting, packaging and storage, best practices must be observed”, he said.

It could be recalled that in the past some European Union (EU) countries had banned a number of the country’s non-oil products due to what they claimed to be the over application preservatives they say were dangerous to the health of consumers.