Gov. Agagu's foray into the Asian Tiger's den.

Publication: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Financial Times Ltd.

(From Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM)

Byline: Kolawole Olabisi

Like every rich nation, the Nigerians literally became giddy with the new found wealth of oil and, among several articles of ostentatious life style consumed then was the long grain parboiled rice mainly from Asian countries like Thailand and China. Indeed, this item was so cherished by the people who preferred the already polished and sorted rice to the stone riddled local ones that, in no time, production of the local rice soon suffered a paralysis.

Despite spirited efforts by successive governments to reverse this trend, not much success was recorded. The people had become hooked on imported rice.

Accentuating this fact is that last year alone, the Federal Government of Nigeria imported rice worth $750 million into the nation to complement local production.

Yet, two countries - China and Thailand - which have continued to be noted for their massive production of rice worldwide, share similar climatic conditions, vegetation...

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