Nigeria Can Export Rice By 2022 Says Agric Minister
GILBERT EKUGBE
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, has stated that Nigeria can be a rice exporting nation in the next two years if it maintains the same momentum towards being rice sufficient.
Nanono said the country currently boasts of about 11 active rice milling plants with a capacity to produce 180-350 tonnes of rice per day, stressing that another rice milling plant with a capacity of 400 tonnes per day would be commissioned soon.
The Minister at a courtesy visit to Nestle Nigeria Head Office in Lagos Monday said, “Apart from these ones, there are some other ones probably about 34 of them. We also have clusters in different areas and prior to the border closure, most of these rice milling plants were partially operating, but now they are not only operating at full capacity, but also extending to other states, so for rice if we maintain the same momentum, we may even export rice. I have checked and what I have found is that about 100 per cent of them have stocked rice for the next six months.”
On the border closure, the Minister said the closure has made rice producers to be fully engaged, creating job opportunities directly and indirectly while also integrating the nation’s agricultural value chain.
“For me and the rest of us, the closure of the border is a blessing and people are becoming even more creative,” he added.
He added that plans are also underway to train over 50,000 extension agents over the next three years to increase the quantity and quality of raw material inputs for local processors and farmers, saying that the number of extension agents in the nation’s agricultural value chain is largely inadequate which he said was the reason for the disconnect between the agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy.
In his words, “We lack extension agents in this country and we need them to guide the farmers and how to use the fertilizer and other agricultural practices, if we do not have this we will always be faced with the low quality and quantity of raw materials as input for processors and farmers. This is why we are looking to train about 50,000 extension workers over the next three years. We are also trying to train some specialized extension workers that would carry the youths along to become farmers.”
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Mauricio Alarcon, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure loans are given to the right processors and farmers, saying that this is the surest way to create a linkage in the nation’s agricultural value chain.
He said the country is currently sourcing over 80 per cent of its raw materials locally with plans to go even further.
He also stated the need for subsequent dialogue sessions between the private and public sectors to change the narratives of the Nigerian economy.
“There are lots of opportunities in Nigeria, lots of opportunities in collaboration and lots of opportunities to make a difference and it is through subsequent dialogues with the public sector that would make a difference to develop the Nigerian economy,” he said.
Asked about how the company has fared over the years despite the harsh business environment, Alarcon, stated that the company has been innovative producing overly nutritious products where about 80 per cent of its products are fortified.
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