As a realtor just north of Edmonton I had the privilege of working with three gentlemen on setting up a rice growing and processing industry. In agreement and promoting was the town, both federal and provincial governments via their agricultural ministers, local farmers and railway on-side to provide a spur to the town’s industrial site. The men were one Chilean, two Japanese and they had the funds to do the job.
They were stopped by outside forces that would not allow the dry land seeds to be imported. Now the USA at that time was the biggest producer of rice in the world, also top importer and exporter. There are 1,700 varieties of dry land rice, most are drought resistant, water tolerant, need no fertilizer, improve the land and can be farmed with regular grain implements. The poorest crop yields twice the pounds per acre of wheat and the poorest quality is twice the price of wheat. Farmers could raise twice the product and get more money even after giving half their product away.
Thank you upper echelon, world leaders, how well you have managed us, as many will die for lack of food.
John A. McDonald
Duncan
