By Mkpuma Enyinna, Abakaliki.
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA), TASTIA, and other partners, has called on investors across Nigeria to explore opportunities in the rice value chain in Ebonyi State.
The call was made during the Investors’ Value Chain Development Programme held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki.
Speaking on the theme, “Exploiting Investment Opportunities in the Rice Value Chain in Ebonyi State,” the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief Nnanna Elechi, described the initiative as timely and strategic, noting that Ebonyi State remains a leading hub for rice production and other agricultural activities.
Elechi said the present administration under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has introduced several technological innovations aimed at boosting agricultural productivity across the state.
He added that the programme was designed to connect farmers with off-takers and expose stakeholders to modern agricultural practices and investment opportunities.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, commended the organisers for what he described as an “epoch-making” initiative focused on value addition and converting agricultural waste into wealth.
He noted that Ebonyi State continues to play a significant role in Nigeria’s rice production landscape.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of EBSMEDA, Dr. Stephen I. Odoh, assured investors of a safe and enabling environment in the state. He described Ebonyi as one of the most secure states in Nigeria for investment and business growth.
Odoh also stressed the importance of strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a strategy for reducing unemployment and crime, while calling on the Bank of Industry (BOI) to make credit facilities more accessible to farmers to boost production.
Speaking on rice processing and quality control, Chief Tony Monueke outlined the stages involved in rice production, including cleaning, parboiling, drying, grading, de-stoning, polishing, hulling, colour sorting, packaging, and marketing. He emphasized the need for increased production to achieve rice self-sufficiency in Nigeria.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mrs. Nnenna Agbafor, in her welcome address, thanked participants for their commitment to rice production in the state.
She encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of emerging opportunities, noting that the programme focused on waste-to-wealth initiatives, access to finance, and modern processing technologies.
