By Chimezie Godfrey
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that Nigeria is very close to achieving self -sufficiency in rice, just as the country targets 7million metric tones of rice production in 2018
Mohammed added: “Also, the fact is that locally produced rice is safer, tastier, and healthier in the words of the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.”
He made this assertion while addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja. He stated that the three key areas of focus in this administration are fight against insecurity, tackling corruption and revamping the economy.
The Minister said,”We are tackling corruption and revamping the economy,these we have done with facts and figures, today in continuation of this effort we are happy to tell Nigerians the giant stride made by this administration in Agricultural sector in particular, specifically in the area of rice production.”
Mohammed said that there is no doubt that rice production in Nigeria has improved. He added that the increased rice production has in turn led to the establishment of rice mills including 120,000 metric
tones that have been cultivated in Kebbi and 1million metric tone of rice Mill being produced by Aliko Dangote.
“What does the increased rice production potend for the country? It means that Nigeria is very close to self sufficiency in rice and by 2018 we target rice production of 7million metric tones” he speculated.
He added that the increased production of rice is bound to eventually bring down the price of rice and also bring succor to Nigerians.
“And by the time we are able to match up rice production and milling, the price will come down. But the important thing is that we are trying to cut down on imported rice.
He further said that within the space of 2 years from September 2015 to September 2017 Nigeria’s rice importation has dropped from 644,131 metric tonnes to just about 21,000 metric tones. The improvement of rice production across the country did not happen by accident.It is largely due to the agricultural programs initiated by the President and the Presidential initiative on fertilizer among others, he noted.
On the issue of food security, he said that no country in the world will leave the food security of its country at the mercy of other nations.”We are taking every step to ensure that there is food security in Nigeria,” he said.
The Minister added that ,” One of the things we are doing, we are even encouraging young graduates also to come into Agriculture and working on giving loans to graduates to start their own farms.”
