NIGERIA TO PRODUCE MORE RICE BY 2018

Nigeria making plans to be self-sufficient in Rice production by 2018.

Aiming at achieving self-sufficiency in rice production, the Nigeria government have set up certain strategies of which one is increasing the production capacity of the country to 7 million tonnes by 2018. This report was received during a media briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

During the briefing, Mr. Lai said that as at 2015, rice demand in the country stood at 6.3 million tonnes, and importation was valued at 644,131 tonnes. But the country’s current administration have achieved major success in local production of rice which in turn have reduced rice importation value to 21,000 tonnes and have marked Nigeria as one of the largest producers of rice.

This success have also attracted investors especially from Thailand, who are seeking to establish rice milling plants in Nigeria.

The success in the local rice production have been attributed to the the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme which was designed to support farmers through inputs distribution and loans to boost rice production.

The Minister revealed that the increased rice production led to the establishment of rice mills like the 120,000-tonne WACOT Mill in Kebbi and the one-million-tonne Dangote Rice Mill. He also said that continuous increase in production with time will eventually reduce the price of rice in the market.