FG to Cut Off Nigeria's $480m Rice Import Bill, Boost Local Production Ahead of Christmas
- The federal government, through the NEPC, has unveiled a plan to increase and promote local rice production in Nigeria
- The proposed plan will eliminate the annual $480 million expenditure on importing millions of tonnes of rice
- The council stated that the focus on rice production is because the staple food is widely consumed across the country
Legit.ng journalist Victor Enengedi has over a decade's experience covering Energy, MSMEs, Technology and the Stock Market.
The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has ramped up efforts to promote local rice production and eliminate the annual $480 million expenditure on importing approximately three million tonnes of rice.
This was revealed by the NEPC Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, during a one-day technical support workshop for rice farmers and processors held in Lokoja.
Source: Getty Images
FG empowers farmers to curb imports
Over the past months, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on selected food prices have consistently shown a steady increase in the prices of both locally produced and imported rice across the country.
Represented by Mr. Aliu Sadiq, Deputy Director of Policy and Strategy at NEPC Abuja, Ayeni highlighted that the council has begun implementing strategies to reduce Nigeria's reliance on imported rice by enhancing local production.
She emphasized that the focus on rice production is well-founded, given that rice is a staple food widely consumed across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and socio-economic classes.
According to The Nation, Ayeni urged participants to adopt the new skills and best practices shared during the workshop to improve their farming activities.
Ayeni explained that the workshop, along with other initiatives introduced by the NEPC and collaborating agencies, was a direct response to the World Bank's recent concerns about food insecurity affecting Sub-Saharan African nations, including Nigeria.
She said:
“The Federal Government of Nigeria under the renewed hope agenda has demonstrated its commitment towards achieving food sufficiency in Nigeria by addressing critical challenges facing farmers such as security, infrastructure, forex and inputs for increased production.”
She reaffirmed the NEPC's commitment to providing essential support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the council's main beneficiaries.
She encouraged participants to leverage the workshop as an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and improve their skills in rice production and processing.
Speaking with Legit.ng, Abu Mohammed, a rice farmer, highlights the benefits of empowering Nigerian farmers to cultivate more rice.
He said:
"Empowering Nigerian farmers to cultivate more rice boosts food security, reduces reliance on costly imports, and strengthens the local economy. It creates jobs, promotes self-sufficiency, and ensures fresher, healthier produce for citizens.
"Supporting local agriculture also helps stabilize the naira by saving foreign exchange and fosters resilience in the agricultural sector, a cornerstone for sustainable development and poverty reduction."
FG announces subsidized rice
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the federal government announced the required documents to access subsidized 50kg bags of rice for N40,000.
This initiative aims to alleviate the food crisis and ensure that essential staples are available to those in need.
Citizens must present their National Identification Number (NIN), an ID card, and an ATM card for registration and payment, followed by a verification process.
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Source: Legit.ng
