Locally produced rice, Eco Rice was made available for sale on Wednesday at Blama Centre at Ahmadiyya Junction in Kenema.

The company producing the rice is owned by former Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs and Chief Minister, David Francis.

Locals in Kenema have applauded the effort made by the former minister and his company to make the rice affordable. A bag is priced at NLe 600 and it also comes in 10kg for NLe 120.

Francis, at the start of the project, said the aim is to ensure agriculture is made enviable while also complimenting the effort of the President, Julius Maada Bio. Eco Rice is produced at Ngovokpahun Village located in Small Bo Chiefdom, Kenema District.

This is the second batch of the local rice to hit Sierra Leonean market after 444 acres of farmland rice was sold few years ago.

Addressing the public, the former minister said the success they have made in this short period is a testament that Sierra Leone could achieve food sustainability through agriculture.

He added that they are also engaged in pineapple, guava and other fruit and vegetable farming. He said that these produce do not only have economic benefits but also medicinal values.

The company is said to be leading in the area of mechanised farming and rice production. They successfully milled 1,000 bags bags of parboiled rice for the Ministry of Agriculture while providing technical support to local farmers as well.