Management of FINATRADE, a rice exporting company, has pledged to collaborate with the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body to increase local rice production in the country. In addition, it will assist rice farmers to produce quality local rice, market their produce and provide training programmes. Mr John Awuni, Corporate Affairs Director of the company announced this during the presentation of a cheque for GH¢30,000 to the organization in Accra. The assistance is for the acquisition of driers, harvesters, tents and other rice production equipment in their communities. Mr Awuni said in addition to purchasing and exporting rice, management would acquire land to engage in rice cultivation to supplement rice production for domestic and international consumption. He noted that local rice consumption in the country is low because of poor processing and packaging and appealed to rice farmers to endeavour to produce quality rice that would discourage the importation of rice into the country. Chairman of FINATRADE, Mr Nabil Moukarzel, who presented the cheque, said management would liaise with rice farmers to make rice affordable. He appealed to Ghanaians to patronize local rice to encourage local rice farmers to increase production. Vice Chairman of Rice Inter-Professional Body, Mr Godwin Attokple, promised to use the money to support members to produce quality rice to encourage more people to patronize it. Source: GNA