Nigeria cannot stop rice importation yet – Farmer

What is your opinion on the steps being taken so far by the federal government to enhance the local production of rice and even stop rice importation?The truth of the matter is Nigeria cannot do without importing rice from abroad at least in the next 10 years. That is the bitter truth! Though rice importation […]

What is your opinion on the steps being taken so far by the federal government to enhance the local production of rice and even stop rice importation?
The truth of the matter is Nigeria cannot do without importing rice from abroad at least in the next 10 years. That is the bitter truth! Though rice importation is not healthy for the economy and does not support local production, we cannot run away from the truth. There are some basic things that must be done before we could be self sufficient in rice production. We have not succeeded in doing up to 10 percent of what is required. So, we are nowhere near providing Nigeria with the rice it requires for local consumption.
What are these that are needed to be self sufficient in rice production?
Nigerians are used to parboiled and long grain rice that cannot be ordinarily grown in the country like our local rice. For Nigerian farmers to successfully grow long grain and parboiled rice in this country, there is the need to first of all carry out soil research with a view to identifying suitable land for that kind of rice to grow. You also have to source for the right seed, the desired fertilizer and you must use the required quantity before we talk of using the desired mill. One must provide all the necessary machines ranging from tractors, harvesters and many others.
For us to be able to feed this country with rice we must go into mass production and that means more money, real money. Where will that come from? In summary, we require a lot of money to conduct a lot of researches to be able to go into mass production of parboiled and other long grain rice. We need a lot of money to buy equipment for rice production. We require a lot of money to buy industrial mills and also to empower the farmers to go into mass production of rice.
The federal government has been spending a lot on the purchase and distribution of rice mills and support to rice farmers. Is that not enough to enhance production?
Despite federal government’s support to rice farmers in the country, the main problem against mass production of rice is yet to be addressed. Until researchers are mobilized to carry out thorough research and their reports and recommendations are implemented, government may not get it right. First, we need the researchers to carry out soil research to identify farmlands that will be good for parboiled and long grain rice. Nigerians are in love with parboiled rice more than our local rice. The result of the research will tell us the kind of fertilizer we require and we must get enough. Then get enough tractors and other machines necessary for production and harvest. The farmers will require a lot of money for that. Thereafter, we talk of industrial mills.
Incidentally, government has skipped the issue of research, provision of machines for farming and production and has also overlooked the issue of empowering the farmers financially. Government is busy providing baby mills. So, we are nowhere yet.