Nigeria should be self-sufficient in rice production – agric minister

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has said farmers in Nigeria are currently producing enough rice to satisfy demand for the commodity, adding that the country has no business importing rice.
Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Addressing journalists on the sidelines of a retreat for directors in the ministry to discuss strategies for unlocking institutional tools for the implementation of the new agriculture sector roadmap – the Green Alternative, Ogbeh said he expects a total stop to the business of importing rice by the end of 2017 due to the abundant harvest of the commodity towards the end of 2016.

Noting that the momentum is bound to be sustained in 2017, the minister said he is absolutely convinced that Nigeria will attain self-sufficiency in rice production this year because at least 50 additional rice mills will be added to the existing 110 in 2017, bringing the number of government-owned rice mills in the country to 160.

He explained that each of the 36 states in the federation will host a minimum of three rice mills as part of government’s effort to stimulate rice farming and processing across the country.

He highlighted the role of research in agriculture development, especially in seed improvement, saying the government intends to embark on the marketing of research findings from research institutes in the country to encourage further research and its buy in. 

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