LAKE Rice Scarcity Heightens

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos-Kebbi Rice production collaboration popularly known as LAKE Rice has become scarce in the market.

The local rice which is always flood the market during festivities has become a scarce commodity, as Lagosians lament the scarcity of the commodity which is cheaper than the foreign rice sold in the market.

A 50kg bag of LAKE Rice sells for N12,000; 25 kg at N6,000; and 10kg goes for N3,000.

A visit to major markets in the state, the traders are lamenting the scarcity of the commodity, saying that they booked for the commodity the months ago but they are yet to receive it from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Mrs Franca Onyegbulam, said most of her customers prefer buying the LAKE rice, apart from the fact that it is cheap, but because it is locally made and sweet.

“I have been going to Alausa alnmost every week to get the commodity having paid over three months ago, but we are told it is not yet on ground. This is really affecting our business. We pray that before next week, the commodity will be available for our customers to purchase”.

A visit to the Ministry of Agriculture in Alausa, Lagos, a senior member at the ministry said the government is not resting on its oars to make the commodity available for the people, most especially during this season.

“There has been some logistics challenge which accounted for the delay and scarcity of the rice, however, the ministry is working hard to make sure that the product is available especially during the festive season. “For now, we are appealing to the distributors and customers to bear with us”, he said.