FG Deepens Efforts to Revitalise Rice Farms Across Nigeria

The Federal Government in a bid to achieve food security has began activities to revitalise rice farms and boost local production across the country.

The Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri on Monday stated that the Federal Government rice farms in Anambra State will be revitalized to boost rice production, create jobs and also improve the living standard of the people in the State and the region.

Shehuri who was on the spot assessment of Federal Government Rice Farms/ Mills in Omor and Umerum, Anambra State, under Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme 1, said that the Federal Government is vigorously pursuing and implementing programs to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.

He explained that rice has remained strategically important as a major staple food crop necessary in achieving food and nutrition security, import substitution and promotion of inclusive economic growth.

“The present administration has provided various interventions to promote investment in the rice sector.

“As a result of these interventions, the country has increased its production from 4.8 million metric tons of milled rice in 2015 to over 6 million metric tons by 2019 with huge reduction in the nation’s deficit.”

The Minister further stated that activities undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop the rice sector include provision of farm inputs such as agrochemicals, organic fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, planting and harvesting equipment such as reapers, mini combine harvesters, threshers at subsidized rate in order to increase productivity.

He explained that the provision of modern rice milling machines of various capacities to small/medium scale processors has facilitated the establishment of 25 integrated rice mills by private investors nationwide with the aim to improve the quality of Nigeria milled rice.

“The Ministry has established 23 Paddy Aggregation Centers nationwide to aggregate and store paddy. The centers were given to members of the Paddy Dealers Association of Nigeria under the public private partnership arrangement.

“There will be dissemination of modern rice production and processing technologies through capacity building of farmers and processors.

“Also, in conjunction with the international donor agencies such as Japan International Cooperation Agency, Food and Agriculture Organization, German International Cooperation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Competitive Africa Rice Initiative, AfricaRice.

“The Ministry is currently responding to the challenges of food availability posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting smallholder farmers nationwide with various inputs including certified seeds of improved varieties of food crops such as rice, maize, sorghum, wheat among others.”

He commended the Government of Anambra State for keying into the policies and programs of the administration by promoting agriculture especially rice production and processing.

In his remark, the House of Representative member of Oyi /Ayamelum Constituency of the National Assembly, Vicent Ofumelu appealed to the Minister to use his good office to intervene in reviving the pumping Stations located in Ifite Ogwari and Umueje communities to boost rice production and increase the locally generated revenue of the people.

Ofumelu stressed that the people are basically farmers and are desirous of agriculture intervention policies of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also solicited for agricultural inputs, quality seeds and financial grant to assist farmers in the communities.