Rice seedlings fetch Cross River N6 billion

The Cross River government has raised N5.5 billion from sales of rice seedlings few months after the state commenced production of the crop.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) for South South states and some corporate rice farmers from Kano purchased seedlings worth N3 billion.

A statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Benedict Ayade, Christian Ita, said, “few days ago, the Abia State government and the IRS Group placed order worth N2.5 billion during a tour of the rice seeds and seedlings facility in Calabar by the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and Chairman of the IRS Group, Rabiu Isiaku Rabiu.”