LAKE Rice production capacity soars as Lagos extends sale to superstores, malls
To drive wider distribution and availability of Lake Rice, a partnership product of Lagos and Kebbi States in rice production, the Lagos State Government had extended the sale to supermarkets and shopping malls across the state.
This stemmed from increased production since last year after the launch in 2016.
Lagos State Government had engaged Kebbi State who has ample rice land with deep pocket resources to drive the partnership which seems to be blooming as the new move by the government to ensure the product reached every nook and cranny of the state considering the soaring productivity.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau had during a meeting with representatives of shopping malls and supermarkets, said the state government extended participation to the high-end markets to quick sales to avoid glut but saturate the market and sweep away rival presence of smuggled products
Suarau noted further that the ultimate goal of the state government was to stop importation of rice and ensure that only locally produced rice was consumed by residents.
According to him, “Our LAKE Rice is of good quality. The major difference between LAKE Rice and imported rice is that the imported rice has a minimum of five to six years storage lifespan, but LAKE Rice is fresh and wholesome”.
In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Ganiyu Okanlawon, revealed that templates are being worked out by the government to go into a Memorandum of Understanding with the stakeholders of supermarkets to ensure that the product was not be adulterated, or passed off in another brand’s name.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, said the state would maintain the original price of N12,000 for 50kg and N6,000 for 25kg, but would offer commission to shopping malls and supermarkets to sell at the approved price and still make their gains.
