Nigeria to start exporting rice in two years —Minister
The Federal Government, on Thursday said the country will start exporting rice to other countries in the next two years given the impressive rise in the production and processing of rice in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono stated this in Kura, Kano State, while on an assessment tour on the impact of the land border closure on the entire rice production value chain.
On the tour was also the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stakeholders and a team of journalists.
“The way and manner we are going in the production of rice, in the next two years, we will start exporting rice outside the country.
“For those that are worried about the partial close of our borders, we are not doing this to hurt the people but to protect the future of the country, provide jobs and food sufficiency.
“Government will continue to give support to rice farmers to achieve this goal,” Nanono said.
According to the minister, Kura an agrarian settlement, is known for irrigation farming in rice, tomato, maize, and other items, mostly consumed in the Southern part of the country, but has concentrated on rice production following the border closure and the ban on rice importation.
The Minister of Information, while speaking during the tour, assured that the federal government would continue to support stakeholders in the rice production value chain.
He, however, appealed to rice growers and millers not to see the loans given to them as their own “share of the national cake”.
“They must understand that when loans are not paid back, it will be difficult for them and others to get more loans,” Mohammed said.
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