18 integrated rice mills, three-cycles farming boost rice production

The introduction of three cycles of rice farming in the country and 18 integrated rice mills have boosted rice production, currently put at 7 million metric tons of paddy rice, cumulatively.

This, according to industry watchers, is a positive sign of Nigeria’s rice sufficiency target. They affirm that since rice is a staple food produced in virtually all the states of the federation, government could hit gold by doing more of what it does at the moment as regards rice production.

Some states government are already doing buy-back policy in rice since the Federal Government commenced the National Policy on Rice Production, which comprises of dry season farming. Notable among these governments are the Kogi, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Akinwunmi Adesina, minister of agriculture and rural development, says private sector investment in the agricultural sector has risen to about $8 billion, saying “we have been able to attract over $1 billion of private sector investors into commercial rice farming and processing. Our investors have further expanded their investment in commercial rice farms and milling from $300 million to $1 billion, and that is one investor alone.

“Focus is now on integrated value chains from the farm to the market. Efforts are on the rise on rapidly fixing challenges from raising farm production and putting in place food processing and value addition to all our commodities.”

He explained further that, “Introduction of rice varieties (Faro 44 and Faro 52) that are long grained varieties are good for long grain – parboiled rice appreciated by consumers.”

Notably, he remarked that the number of farmers growing the improved varieties had increased from 136,000 in 2012 to 1.9 million by wet season in 2013, and had increased to 3 million farmers by 2014 wet season.

Harrison Edeh