FG sets up national task force on production of rice, wheat 

The Federal government yesterday established a National Rice and Wheat Task Force to set targets that will yield comprehensible and self-evident results in rice and wheat production in the country.

Members of the task force include Governors of Kebbi State Abubakar A. Bagudu,  A. U. Ganduje of Kano State, and David Umahi of Ebonyi State. Others are the Minister of State for Agriculture Lokpobiri Heineken, the President of Rice Farmers Association Mallam Aminu Goronyo  and the President Wheat Farmers Association Saliu Mohammed.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Taskforce, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo noted that “What we are trying to achieve is that agriculture is our main stay and we are trying to evolve a strategy for our economy, a strategy for employment and a strategy for feeding our people”.

According to a statement by his spokesman Laolu Akande, Osinbajo reiterated that the need to feed Nigeria’s population is one of the focus of the Buhari administration. “Rice and wheat is our main focus, and making sure that in one year we can show the world that we are serious” he added.

The task force which has been empowered to develop strategies to rejuvenate the whole value chain has the following terms of reference

“To set up production targets for rice and wheat in the participating states; to determine the scope and particulars for government support needed towards the attainment of the set targets; to consider and proffer the best off-take and marketing arrangements that will encourage maximum effort among the farmers/millers;  to determine the rice and wheat value chain deficiencies and recommend solutions for addressing them;   to mobilize farmers and millers in identified target states to engage the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and other available support facilities;    to establish timelines for the delivery of goals set by the Task Force”.

Responding, the Chairman of the Task Force and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, thanked the Vice President for the consideration and stated that the disconnect between farmers and millers needed to be addressed.  He added that the two bodies in the value chain need to be mobilized for maximum results.