Governor Ben Ayade understands what it takes to grow an economy. He understands that the availability of raw materials in a given community can turn around the economy of such area if well harnessed.
The ultra modern Ogoja rice mill which his administration built in pursuit of its agro- industrialization policy underscores this.
To better appreciate how the Ogoja rice mill will impact on the economy of Cross River’s rice belt, Cross River North Senatorial district, one needs to be intentional in digesting Mahatma Gandhi’s immortal quote:
“If you give me rice, I will eat today; if you teach me how to grow rice, I will eat every day.”
The above quote rings true in the ears of rice farming communities of Northern Cross River- Bansara, Mfom, Ntara, Nkum, Ukele, Ugaga, Okpoma, Okuku, the Upland rice cultivators in Bekwara, Otukwang- they are not just growing and eating rice but have made cultivation of the grain the mainstay of their economy.
Thankfully, the prosperity agenda of the Ayade administration finds amity with the rice economy of the Northern Cross River.
With a storage capacity of about 6,500 tons and continuous production, a storage capacity of 240 tons per day, at 24 hours operation, the Ogoja rice mill can absorb all local rice productions in the entire Northern Cross River as an off-taker.
To local rice farmers in this part of Cross River, this means effortless and seamless disposal of their products in exchange for more money in their pockets.
To further situate this, just imagine Bansara rice farmers with over 20, 000 hectares of land under cultivation having tons upon tons of their harvest bought off in one fell swoop by the Ogoja rice mill.
This way, the farmers are saved from the hassles of transporting the products to the markets and enduring forth and back price haggling with potential buyers.
The Ogoja rice mill is eye-popping and jaw-dropping. With design and installed machinery in the facility sharing similarities and competing favourably with those in the industrialised world.
The magnificent Ogoja rice mill leaves first-time visitors mouths agape.
Ayade’s predecessor, former Governor Liyel Imoke, satisfied with what he saw after a visit to the plant some time ago, had this to say:
“The rice mill is huge, it is a project that makes economic sense, it is a project that creates employment. I love the location, it is ideally located. It will capture rice from the northern, central and Southern Cross Rivers in terms of access to the market.
“I have always talked about timing. The Ogoja rice Mill came at the right time”
Indeed, for broadening the frontiers of their economy, the people of Northern owe Senator Ayade a debt of gratitude and the most exhilarating way to repay this debt is to return him to the senate next year.
Cross River North yearns for purposeful representation in the Senate and the cap is tailor-made for Ayade.
Chidi Onyemaizu is the Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Governor Ayade
