Stakeholders encourage Rice production in Nigeria

With billions of naira spent annually on rice importation, stakeholders in the agriculture sector have called for concerted actions to boost local capacity to reduce the import of the commodity and also
preserve Nigeria’s foreign exchange.
Rising from a 3-day Lagos Rice Fair, which held from September 17-19, 2015, participants were unanimous about the huge opportunities that existed in the rice value chain which had the potential to stimulate growth of locally produced rice.
Declaring the fair open, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said the setting up of Imota Rice Processing Mill at Ikorodu, one of Nigeria’s largest rice mills, is one of the initiatives of the state towards advancing local production and processing of rice.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Dr. Olajide Basorun, said the state would work with stakeholders to curb the importation of rice, while creating improved linkages among rice value chain actors.
He said the event came at the most auspicious time as, according to him, stimulating effective demand is critical to increase local production and competitiveness of Nigerian rice.
Busuyi Okeowo, Senior Intervention Manager for DFID funded project, Growth and Employment in States (GEMS4), highlighted opportunities in the industry to include wholesale and retail distribution; packaging of Nigerian rice into smaller units as well as trade financing from banks.
He said the stimulation of market system changes would encourage growth and access, resulting in the creation of 10,000 new jobs and increased incomes for over 500,000 people, especially the poor and women in the rice value chain.
Over 13 major Nigerian rice brands attended the Lagos fair, including Mama Pride, Tomato Arozo, Super Champion, Labana rice, Igbemo rice, Anfanni rice, and Eko rice, among others.
With total demand for milled rice in Nigeria put at about 5.2 million metric tons a year, about 3.3 million metric tons are produced locally and 2.2 million metric tons imported.