Thursday, 12 May 2011 00:00
Nigerian Compass

Recent information that Nigeria still imports about one million tonnes of rice valued at about $700 million or about N106 billion from Peoples Republic of Thailand every year is disturbing and calls to question the purported increase in agricultural production in the country.

More worrisome is the information that Brazil and Uruguay which were not known as major producers of rice have over the years developed their rice fields and are now offering lower prices to beat Thailand in the export of the product to the lucrative Nigerian market.

It is shameful that Nigeria is using its oil money to import rice from Thailand when the same money could have been better used to promote local production of rice such that the country can become a major producer of this vital food item and also a net exporter of the product.

The fact that Nigeria cannot produce enough of local rice to meet national demand for rice and has to import as much as one million tonnes of the product annually from Thailand is an indication that there is a looming food insecurity in the country and concerted efforts should be made to ensure enough local production of rice.

There is no reason why Nigeria cannot produce enough rice for itself and also for export. The country has vast and fertile agricultural land that can support massive rice cultivation. Besides, the Nigerian rice, otherwise known as Ofada, Pategi, and Abakaliki brands, is acclaimed as more nutritious than Thai rice. Unfortunately, the price of the local varieties in the market is higher than the price of the imported Thai rice. It is saddening that the Federal Government has not been successful in its efforts to popularise the production of these local brands.

The Obasanjo administration started a rice initiative that was designed to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production and even have enough for export to other ECOWAS countries. While the rice initiative was on, new hybrid varieties of rice were adopted and sold to farmers at subsidised prices. It was supposed to be a sustained campaign to increase the acreage under rice production and concurrent increase in the tonnage of rice produced. It was hoped that by 2008, Nigeria would have achieved self-sufficiency in rice production and would have started exporting the commodity to other West African countries.

Rice cultivation must be reinvigorated to make Nigeria self sufficient in the production of this popular food item and also to conserve the country’s hard earned foreign reserves. Nigeria has vast and rich agricultural land that can support large-scale rice production. In fact, rice cultivation does not require any special skill before it can be done. The fact that cultivation of rice can also fetch farmers reasonable income is a good reason for government to fund local rice production. Young farmers and school leavers should also be encouraged to go into rice cultivation to earn a good living.

The fact that Brazil and Uruguay are now keenly competing with Thailand for the supply of rice to the Nigerian market is an indication that if there is strong and sustained government support for local rice farmers, Nigeria can also be a major producer of rice, as well as a net exporter of the product to other West African countries.

Rice is the most widely consumed food in Nigeria and in most African countries. Unless and until there is marked and massive local production of imported food like rice, Nigeria’s food security remains at risk.

What the country needs is a sincere and sustained government intervention in food production and processing. There is no way Nigeria can realise its vision of becoming one of the first 20 most industrialised countries in the world if it cannot feed itself and has to rely on other countries to feed its teeming population.

As President Goodlluck Jonathan prepares for his inauguration on May 29, he must make a clean break from the past and put aggressive food production programme on top of his agenda and encourage the production of rice and other major food items to make the country self-sufficient in food production and also for export.

It is now time for an active and sustained presidential intervention in food production and processing such that both the federal and state governments will consciously provide robust financial and material support for farmers to produce rice and other food and cash crops to enable Nigeria to once again, feed its increasing population in order to stop its massive food importation.

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5912:nigeria-as-largest-importer-of-thai-rice-&catid=58:editorial&Itemid=569

Something is very wrong with this country that a farmer in Thailand is able to produce rice more cheaply than the Nigerian farmer can. . . even after the import duties on rice, cost of shipping, etc.

Or is Thailand subsidizing their rice for export? Somehow I doubt this.

Someone needs to show some leadership and deal with this issue.

sad, Nigeria just imports imports imports imports.
if Nigeria gets its act together, i don't think we should even be important 50% of the things we currently do.
we need to wise up.
imagine a country that produces oil importing it  

Who no like rice?

Rice in the morning
Rice for lunch
Jollof rice for dinner.

THE AMAKA:

sad, Nigeria just imports imports imports imports.
if Nigeria gets its act together, i don't think we should even be important 50% of the things we currently do.
we need to wise up.
i[b]magine a country that produces oil importing it[/b]  

very sad indeed

we have rice field in abakaliki, why can't those farmers be encouraged and be invested in; so as to improve their production

very sad country


i mean we import pencil at this age as well

The problem is that they aren't competitive. Thai/Brazilian/Uruguayan farmer can produce rice more cheaply than Nigerian farmer can.

Which means Nigerian farmer needs to increase his yields and productivity if he wants to be competitive.

ekt_bear:

The problem is that they aren't competitive. Thai/Brazilian/Uruguayan farmer can produce rice more cheaply than Nigerian farmer can.

Which means Nigerian farmer needs to increase his yields and productivity if he wants to be competitive.

yes but how when the FG has invested in those forgign companies and leaves the local companies to rot