Nigeria Aims to Become Africa’s Leading Rice Exporter, Says Governors’ Forum

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is optimistic that Nigeria can become a major rice exporter in Africa. They believe the country has the agricultural potential and resources needed to achieve this goal. Currently, Nigeria faces a shortfall of about 5 million metric tonnes in rice production.

According to the NGF, Nigeria consumes around 8.6 million metric tonnes of rice each year, a number expected to rise to 9.1 million metric tonnes next year. However, domestic production is only about 3.3 million metric tonnes. The NGF attributes this gap to inconsistent government policies and other challenges in the agricultural sector.

Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, the Director-General of the NGF, emphasized that Nigeria should not rely on imported rice given its agricultural capabilities. He pointed to China’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency through targeted investments as a model for Nigeria.

To address the production issues, the NGF is calling for better agricultural data and support for farmers. They have set up a new department to improve data collection and management across states. Shittu urged all 36 states to create functional Bureaus of Statistics to enhance agricultural planning.

The NGF has partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to strengthen governance in agriculture. They launched the Northwest Rice Diagnostic Report, which is part of ongoing efforts to tackle agricultural challenges.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Agriculture is expanding its support for farmers. They financed over 500,000 farmers last season and plan to increase that number this year. The bank is also introducing guaranteed minimum prices for rice to protect farmers from market fluctuations.

Experts warn that Nigeria needs a stable policy environment to attract private investment in rice production. They also highlight the importance of reliable data and support for farmers to compete with imports.