Nigeria to export rice in two years —Nanono

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, says with the phenomenal increase in rice production and processing in the country, Nigeria will be exporting the commodity in the next two years.

The minister stated this on Thursday in Kura, Kano State during an assessment tour on the impact of the border drill on the entire rice production value chain.

News Agency of Nigeria reports Nanono, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed led stakeholders to inspect the cluster of cottage rice mills in Kura.

The team also visited four integrated rice mills in the state.

“With 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 who 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,” he said.

The minister said that Kura is an agrarian settlement known for irrigation farming in rice, tomato, maize and other items, mostly consumed in the southern part of the country.

He said farmers in Kura had, however, concentrated on rice production following the border drill and the ban on rice importation.

Speaking in the same vein, Mohammed said that the federal government would continue to support the 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,” he said.

(NAN)