L
LequteMan
Guest
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in an interview with newsmen on Sunday said that Nigeria was ``producing more paddy rice than ever before``.
Adesina said 1.1 million tons of paddy rice was produced last dry season, and that if all of it was milled, it would meet at least 30 per cent of the rice the country was importing.
He added that in the 2013 wet season, not less than 960,000 tons of rice was produced.
According to the minister, government plans to produce 1.6 million tons of paddy rice in the 2013/2014 dry season.
He said due to the enhanced production of paddy rice, the Federal Government planned to end rice importation by the year 2016.
He added that Nigeria was the largest importer of Thailand rice and that by so doing Nigeria was making its local farmers jobless while creating jobs for farmers in the Asian country.
Adesina said because Nigeria had the capacity to be self-sufficient in rice production, the ministry would not relent in its effort to ensure that local farmers were encouraged to produce and protected from unnecessary competition.
He also promised that the Federal Government would not abandon farmers in the country.
Adesina said 1.1 million tons of paddy rice was produced last dry season, and that if all of it was milled, it would meet at least 30 per cent of the rice the country was importing.
He added that in the 2013 wet season, not less than 960,000 tons of rice was produced.
According to the minister, government plans to produce 1.6 million tons of paddy rice in the 2013/2014 dry season.
He said due to the enhanced production of paddy rice, the Federal Government planned to end rice importation by the year 2016.
He added that Nigeria was the largest importer of Thailand rice and that by so doing Nigeria was making its local farmers jobless while creating jobs for farmers in the Asian country.
Adesina said because Nigeria had the capacity to be self-sufficient in rice production, the ministry would not relent in its effort to ensure that local farmers were encouraged to produce and protected from unnecessary competition.
He also promised that the Federal Government would not abandon farmers in the country.