Mitros rice

Adejoke Adeleye

Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, recently launched Ogun Ofada rice named MissionTo Rebuild Ogun State(MITROS) rice.

Ofada rice is a local variety of uniquely processed brown rice that is produced in a town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area in Ogun State.

Ofada rice is a member of the Oryza Glaberrima species of rice, also known as African Rice. Ofada comes in two types, the white and brown, based on the unmilled seed colour.

Gov Amosun in his remark at the launching held at Ministry of Agriculture Asero Abeokuta,tagged “The Presidential Task Force on Agricultural Commodities and Production” said the rice was planted, produced and packaged in Ogun State.

Amosun also made it known that 110,000 of 50kg of the ofada was being launched with smaller sizes like 25kg,10kg,5kg and the smallest pack of about #200.

“Our major problém is unemployment, it is gradually coming to an end”.

“The unavailability of food is coming to an end in Ogun state. There is creation of jobs for our unemployed youths. Our farmers will benefit from it”.

Also Governor Kebbi, another rice producing state, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said he was glad that governor Amosun was able to deliever on the promise he made three months ago concerning being part of rice producing states.

“Also Federal Government recongises that we should do things differently.”
“With rice we can achieve what we have achieved with crude oil.”
“Even President Muhammad Buhair also approved the task force on rice commodity”

“Nigeria has ability to produce rice competitively. It is important for us to patronise Nigeria commodity.”

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele said “a country that does not take agriculture seriously is nowhere to be found. We’ll continue to support anybody who does agriculture.We will no longer sell products in foreign exchange to produce in agriculture.

We’ll also look at how to produce fish ponds at the rate of 5 per cent for those that are intereseted in farming.

“We will support fish ponding as a means to produce and generate funding for the country.”

The newly selected Akarigbo of Remoland Oba Babatunde Ajayi in his remark said “l looked at the ofada producing areas and I cán’t find Remoland on the list.”

He therefore pleaded with the government to come and develop Remoland too.

The chairman of rice farmers, Segun Ogunkoya implored the government to support rice farmers in Ogun State.

“We support what the Governor is doing today he should please continue to support rice farmers.”