By Emmanuel Nduka
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the mega rice pyramid in Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the event, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) projected that the country will soon commence exportation of rice in the near future to stimulate the twin benefits of food security and economic diversification.
This affirmation was made by Ado Hassan, Secretary of the Kano State Chapter of RIFAN, on the project which is a joint venture between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under its Anchor Borrowers Programme, and RIFAN.
While dispelling insinuations that the rice pyramids on display were not solely rice, he added that the commodity was brought in by rice farmers in virtually all states of the country.
“The rice here is from all over the country. RIFAN has always been real; it is not possible to deceive 200 million Nigerians with a project like this.
“For the fact that Nigeria has not imported even a grain of rice in the last four years is enough prove that we are already self-sufficient in the commodity. The cultivation of rice is a reality and it will continue to happen,” he said.
Hassan added that Nigeria had become the highest rice growing country in Africa due the support of the Federal Government and the intervention of the CBN.
“There was a time when the CBN was spending N1billion to support rice import bills. Today the apex bank is no longer spending a kobo to support importation of rice.
“Today, Nigeria has become the highest rice grower in the whole of Africa. That is a great achievement.
“We have leaders of some of our neighbouring countries who are coming here today to see our miracle in rice. They are a sure market for our rice exportation,” he added.
President Buhari speaking at that the commissioning, noted that the feat is an indication that Nigeria is making steady and assured progress towards self-sufficiency in food production.
He expressed expectation that other agricultural commodity associations that were yet to participate under the CBN-funded Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, will emulate the rice farmers association of Nigeria in supporting his administration’s drive for food self-sufficiency.
“As a critical policy of the government, the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme is expected to catalyse the agricultural productive base of the nation, which is a major part of our economic plan to uplift the economy, create jobs, reduce reliance on imported food and industrial raw materials, and conserve foreign exchange,” Buhari noted.
Meanwhile, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said beyond increasing the national output from about 5.4 million metric tonnes in 2015 to over 9 million metric tonnes in 2021, the CBN in collaboration with the rice farmers have also significantly improved the productivity per hectare of the smallholder farmer from about 2.4 metric tonnes per hectares in 2015 to between about 5 metric tonnes per hectares in 2021.
Emefiele said the unveiling of the rice pyramids was one of the many achievements of the CBN funded Anchored Borrowers’ Programme, and that the feat was achieved due to the vision and determination of the Buhari-led administration to deliver on food security.
“I salute your vision of making agriculture a cornerstone,” Emefiele said while commending President Buhari, even as he appreciated the resilience of the smallholder farmers and the stakeholders in the rice production line.
Emefiele did not forget to remind the President that the farmers have battled insurgency, banditry and kidnapping, to which some of them have lost their lives, while others could not access their farms.
He added that the CBN has financed about five million small scale farmers on rice farming, saying that is still a far cry from the desired goals.
President Buhari unveiled 13 rice pyramids (one million bags of rice) at the event which was attended by state governors and business operators.
