Agrikexpo

AGRIKEXPO 2016

AGRIKEXPO 2016, the 5th edition, of what has become one of Africa's biggest events for Agribusiness development and Conferences, has continued to rise in profile with a burgeoning number of exhibitors and visitors from all over Africa and the world. Nigeria is, no doubt, a choice destination for Agribusiness development/investments, given the focus of Government on transforming the sector for food security, increased export earnings, job creation and other economic benefits. Nigeria is the hub of trade in West Africa with the implication that buyers come from nearby countries to procure from Nigeria. In that regard,there is a great need for new investments, partnerships and appropriate technology, including an increase in value chain activities for quick results.

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AgrikExpo 2016

Show case your Agric products at the 2015 Edition of AGRIKEXPO/FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA.

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AGRIKEXPO 2015, 4TH EDITION

Why Nigeria is yet to be self-sufficient in rice production

by ABOLAJI ADEBAYO on Jan 28, 2015
www.agrikexpo.com
Posted under: Agriculture, Business, Business & Finance
Agric Min. Akinwumi Adesina Nigeria has no reason to import palm oil, says Adesina Ohaneze chieftain urges government to prioritize agriculture, tourism President, Nigerian Rice Investors Group, Tunji Owoeye

The Chairman, Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Abubakar, has explained why Nigeria still import rice, saying the country is short of enough paddies to meet the demand to attain self sufficiency.

Speaking recently at a press conference organised by the Nigeria Rice Investors Group, Abubakar said the total amount of rice produced locally was about 2.5 million to three million tons and that only about 800,000 tons were processed annually by integrated rice millers, adding that Nigeria has only 24 integrated rice millers.

He said rice produced by integrated rice millers are cleaner than those produced by remote rice farmers.

According to him, Nigeria consumes over five million tons of rice annually.

He noted that investors were intensifying efforts in the production of paddy rice in other to end importation, adding that in three years Nigeria will end rice importation.

“We have the capacity to process 800,000 tons. But that is not for all the places you expect rice production in Nigeria. But we are growing because we have a growing population. The total production that we have has not exceeded 2.5 million to three million tons. That’s why there is a room for importation.

“We have a long way to go. That is why we are advocating that you, me, and everybody should come and join the centre so that we can produce more paddies which will translate to more rice and eventually translate into stopping importation of rice into Nigeria.

“Almost all the investors are going back to the production of paddy. That means maybe by two or three years, the issue of import will come to rest. The issue of policy change, policy summersault will come to rest because we will have enough paddies that we can process and use to feed our country,” Abubakar said.

In his address, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoaaka, said no government gave attention to the rice value chain as the present administration.

He said, “As the chairman of a company that is involved in local rice production and also a key government official in the past, I can assure you that in recent times, I can vow and say no government has given attention to agriculture as this present government. The revolution put in place by this government is capable of creating jobs and stemming the rising unemployment in the country.

“People should take advantage of locally produced rice because if you buy one bag of local rice, you are helping the farmers. If we mill one bag, the bulk of money goes directly to the farmers. That is why the President has vowed to support local farmers throughout the country.”

According to President, Nigeria Rice Investors Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, there were challenges in the rice sector, but businesses in the industry are doing better presently.

“We are not politicians but businessmen. I can assure you that businesses and even farmers in this sector are doing well now compared to what is used to be in past. However, that does not mean that we don’t have challenges, we have a lot of them, but we are making progress,” Owoeye said.

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, had said that rice production in the country over the last three years has generated about N400billion to the Nigerian economy.

Adesina said Nigeria has currently attained 80 per cent self-sufficiency in paddy rice production as well as added seven million metric tonnes of paddy rice to the domestic food supply in 2013.

He maintained that with the establishment of 18 rice integrated mills across the country, Nigeria would not only achieve self-sufficiency in rice production but also become a net exporter of food. He explained that the challenge confronting the nation in its bid to attain self-sufficiency in rice production was the milling of the paddy rice which has been produced in the country in large quantities.

While explaining various initiatives introduced under Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, and the successes recorded so far, Adesina said, “What has happened as a result of this is that our rice farmers have allowed us to add N400billion worth of value of rice into the economy.

“The challenge we have today is not in the production of paddy rice but how to close the milling gaps.

“When we started, there was only one integrated rice mill in the country, but today there are 18 of them within the period of two and half years.”

He posited that Nigeria has no reason whatsoever to continue to import rice worth N365 billion yearly, in view of the fact that the nation is endowed with arable land and deep water resources.

The minister said the Federal Government has already reached six million rice farmers across the country through the provision of fertilizers and high quality seeds.

Apart from the provision of jobs for the teeming youths across the country, Adesina said the introduction of both wet and dry seasons farming under the present administration, has helped tremendously to revive the rural economy.

He added that 24 States in Nigeria are now growing rice during the dry season, adding that all 36 States and Abuja are equally engaged in rice production during the wet season.