COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, October 7 (ePRESS) – For the first time, a Sri Lankan company will export red rice to Nigeria, marking a milestone in agricultural trade between the two nations.
Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd., the producer of the popular ARIYA Food brand, announced that red rice shipments will begin this November. The company also plans to set up a tissue culture laboratory to produce high-yielding red rice seedlings tailored for Nigerian farming conditions.
The agreement was signed at ARIYA Food’s Colombo factory between Prasad Vithanage, Managing Director of ARIYA Food, and Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, lawyer and former Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Manoj Jagtiani, Chairman and Managing Director of MACE Industries Nigeria Ltd., will serve as the Nigerian distributor for Sri Lankan spices under the partnership. Vithanage said exports of Ceylon cinnamon and other spices to Nigeria have already begun.
“Red rice was once grown widely in Nigeria, but farmers switched to white rice due to low yields,” Vithanage explained. “This is why we decided to set up a tissue culture lab — to introduce several high-yielding red rice varieties to the Nigerian market.”
Former Governor Ayade confirmed plans for a joint venture with Tradlanka to establish the laboratory in Nigeria, strengthening agricultural collaboration between the two countries.
ARIYA Food currently exports Sri Lankan fruits, vegetables, spices, and other products to the Gulf region, where they are sold through leading supermarket chains including Lulu and Carrefour.
