Following the New year address of president Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, January 1 2017 that the federal government will ban the importation of rice into the country, an Agriculturist, Mr Richard Ogundele has advised that the Federal Government should allow the large production of rice in the country before move to ban its importation takes effect.
Speaking in Lagos at an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today, Ogundele advised that the government should ensure a planned system that would guarantee consistent rice production, before implementing an outright ban.
President Muhammadu Buhari during in his New Year message, disclosed that rice importation would be banned in 2018, due to increased local production.
Pile of Rice
The Agriculturist however suggested that the government should allow the present rice production in the country to run consistently for a period of one or two more years afterwhich the production rate is appraised before effective importation ban policy is instituted.
ALSO READ: FG Sets To Partner With Osun State On Food Production
“Let us allow it run one more cycle, consolidate and have everything in place, and ensure that it is functional and effective.
“If we ban now, it might be too hasty.
“The present local production capacity is 5.7 million metric tonnes of milled rice, while our demand is 7 million metric tonnes annually of milled rice.
“Our paddy rice production is 17 million metric tonnes as at 2016.
“If we have a higher volume of paddy and better quality, we would be able to get more than the present 5.7 million metric tonnes which represents 84 per cent of our annual demand.
“It means we are on our way to self-sufficiency,” he said.
Ogundele further added that a total ban will introduce shortage in the country which in turn will encourage smugglers to blossom in business due to country’s porous borders.
However the agriculturist urge the government at the central, local and state to fully unlock the nation’s agriculture potential through increased investment, incentives and creating an enabling environment conducive for business to thrive.
Ogundele is the Group Intervention Manager for Growth and Employment in States (GEMS4), a World Bank and the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID)-financed project in Nigeria.
Follow us on Facebook – Dailyfamily.ng, Twitter – @DailyfamilyNG , Whatsapp +2348188889427, BBM PIN D86722A7 and instagram @dailyfamilyng for more updates.
