Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh,
says Nigeria currently produces 90 per cent of the rice consumed in the
country. The Minister who last month said people import Pizza to Nigeria from
the UK, said this when he spoke at the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning
meeting which held at the Balarabe Tanimu Conference Hall at the Institute for
Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Kaduna State yesterday Tuesday April 16th.
Ogbeh, who was represented by Karima Babangida, the Director
of Extension Services in the ministry, said this was achievable because of the
massive suport the Federal government was giving local rice farmers.
“One very good example that we see today is the home-grown
Nigerian rice. Hitherto, Nigeria has been a major and largest importer of rice
from Thailand and this implies largest importer in the world. But today, we
have been able to achieve a paradigm shift in the right direction and we are
now producing 90 per cent of the rice we eat in the country, I think we should
appreciate our farmers here.
Nigeria does not only have the capacity to feed itself, it
also becomes a major actor in agricultural exports to other African countries,
Europe and American countries, including the Far East, especially China.” he
said
