Nigeria is now the largest importer of rice in the world!

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Nigeria continues to blaze the trail in all things, most of which are detrimental to the nation's economy. Presently, the country is the largest importer of rice in the world! Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed this on Monday. Akinwumi, however warned that if drastic measures are not put in place the Federal Government could spend up to $150 billion (N23.4 trillion) by 2050 for the importation of rice in to the country.

Adesina disclosed this while speaking at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) workshop on Financing Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution.

“Nigeria is now the largest importer of rice in the world. As our population rises, demand for rice is projected to rise from the current level of five million MT to 36 million MT by 2050. Unless Nigeria begins an aggressive import substitution programme for rice, it will spend $150 billion annually importing rice by 2050 and the nation will be broke” he said.

The minister who has been driving a robust agricultural policy of encouraging and wooing investment and funding of local production in the country, stressed the need for the nation to take a bold step in food security strategies, adding that such strategies would make Nigeria self-sufficient in the production of rice by 2015.

“To encourage the production and milling of local rice, the Federal Government has raised tariffs on imported brown rice and finished rice. The policy is working. In the last 12 months, 13 new rice mills, with a total capacity of 240,000 MT, have been set up by the private sector” he said.

Adesina listed the country's local rice as Miva and Ashi rice in Benue, Umza rice in Kano, and Ebonyi rice in Ebonyi, saying they were as good as the imported rice.

Efforts made by the Ministry of Agriculture in sensitizing Nigerians on the need to patronise locally produced rice as against the imported ones has not yielded any positive change of attitude.

A more proactive public/private sector partnership will help boost the production of the local rice but a lot has to be done in ensuring that the Commercial and Peasant farmers are encouraged in the production of the local rice and other foodstuffs.

It is expected that the aggressive agricultural policy unveiled by the ministry will be sustained as this will not only propel massive agricultural production but also guarantee food security.