District importing rice to test local market, says Schnaubelt

NAMATANAI MP Walter Schnaubelt says importing the long grain rice from Thailand is about testing products in the district’s economic space.
Launched in July this year, the “Bilas rice” under the Bilas Distributers, a subsidiary of the Namatanai Advancement Ltd (NAL) was about testing the market.
NAL is the business arm of the Namatanai Development Authority.
NAL general manager Hosea Kalis said Walters Farming Association (WFA) on average was selling 30 to 50 bags of 20kg rice bales at K50 each per day to local farmers who came in to sell their garden produce.
He said farmers were buying the rice bales at a whole sale price and reselling at a retail price.
Schnaubelt said Asian stores operating in Namatanai township were buying in bulk and reselling at retail prices in their shops.
“It is encouraging to bring in our own rice which is of best high grade long grain rice to suit and improve people’s diet.
“Schnaubelt said the product was healthier for diabetic patients to consume and encourages people to incorporate healthy living,” Kalis said.
He said the initiative was to empower the people.
Kalis said there were other products to come in line such as oil, salt, sugar, water, soap that would be branded under Bilas Distributers.
He said they were negotiating with Ramu Sugar to brand their own sugar whilst talking to other companies to have Bilas wara (water).
Kais said all this would be the product line of the Bilas Distributers.