LARKANA, Nov 24: The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) south zone has decided to set up seed processing plant at suitable site in Sindh.

This was stated by Gada Hussain Mahisar, president Sindh Baluchistan Rice Millers and Traders Association (SBRMTA) here on Monday while talking to newsmen.

He said that after the closure of Sindh Seed corporation it had become inevitable for the people connected with Rice trade to have such a plant to prepare fine qualities of rice.

The REAP and SBRMTA have joined hands for furthering the rice business and dealing with the export, Mahisar said and added in this regard both bodies had felt the availability of certified seeds of different rice varieties a must. Abdul Rahim Janoo the chairman of supreme council of REAP had promised for funds and machinery for setting up such plant in Sindh province.

A coordination committee with equal representation from REAP and SBRMTA would regularly meet in Larkana and Karachi to evaluate the volume of rice trade and finding new markets so as to evolve common strategy, Mahisar said.

It was also decided in the meeting that different rice varieties would be purchased at appropriate rate from growers so as to discourage the trend of sending and selling rice in Punjab market. The members of both associations agreed in modernizing the rice mills with the aim to competing in world market by producing fine quality of rice.

The REAP will keep the SBRMTA informed about specification of rice variety in case of striking any deal with any country so that standard quality of rice produced in interior of Sindh may be exported with confidence.