Local Rice Production Rises to Nine million MT – RIFAN

Nigeria’s local rice production rose from two million metric tons in 2015 to nine million metric tons in 2021, President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Aminu Goronyo has said.

According to the association’s president, with the present rate of production, Nigeria is certain to become a rice-exporting country.

Goronyo made this declaration at the inauguration of the sale of rice paddy to millers at a reduced rate jointly agreed to with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Kaduna State.

He said, “Before the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015, we used to produce just about two million metric tons of rice paddies annually.

“Today, we can boast of nine million metric tons annually; there is a clear difference and now we can boldly say that Nigeria is self-sufficient in rice.”

Farmers were also given farming tools, fertilisers and inputs in preparation for the 2021 wet season cultivation at the event.

Goronyo said rice paddy is now being sold to millers in 16 states at N190 per kilogram to enable them to mill and also sell to consumers at affordable prices.

“We will sell the paddy to the millers at N190 per kilogram as against the price range of N200 to N230 per kilogram sold by others.

“The directive came from the CBN that we reduce the price so that millers can also sell to Nigerians at a cheap rate,” he said.

Goronyo further added that the current production level was achievable only because of the courage, commitment and patriotism of rice farmers who were dedicated to their farms irrespective of the security threat ravaging the country.

He, however, noted the RIFAN members were able to overcome insecurity because of the support of the military and support from other security agencies.

On his part, Kaduna Branch Controller of the CBN, Ahmad Wali who represented the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele in his remark said the bank has been supportive of agricultural initiatives.

Wali who lauded the rice farmers for their impressive effort to repay loans granted them, also urged farmers in other value chains to emulate their rice counterparts.

SOURCE AGRONIGERIA