The closure of Nigerian borders has energised rice farmers in the country who are now smiling to the bank due, the Minister for State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, has said.

According to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the agriculture ministry, Mr Shehuri said this at the Livestock House of the ministry in Mando, Kaduna State on Saturday.

“They are smiling to the banks with the impressive sales they have recorded and this opportunity has created more jobs, not only in rice production but also livestock and other commodities,” he said.

Apart from the closure of the borders, which the minister says has benefitted the rice farmers, the federal government has also implemented major policies to favour local production of rice, Nigeria’s major staple food.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, despite its numerous challenges, has contributed to local rice production.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, “the programme thrust of the Anchor Borrowers Programme is provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to smallholder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food.”

The programme, among other things, is expected to increase banks’ financing to the agriculture sector and to create a new generation of farmers as well as to boost employment.

In his speech, the agric minister described Nigerian farmers as a very determined and hard-working workforce.

He said they work tirelessly even without assistance from the government to improve the country’s economy and put food on the table of Nigerian homes.

“We look at agriculture as an enterprising business and we assure Nigerians of better jobs from the type of growth that will result from it,” he said.

The minister also assured farmers that the government will sell equipment to them at 50 per cent discount.

This is to support and make farming equipment accessible to local farmers in order to achieve food sufficiency and economic growth in Nigeria, he said.

Mr Shehuri said his visit was basically to ensure that the staff and management team of the ministry in the Kaduna office worked in tandem with the objectives of the government in improving the farmers capacity towards achieving food security for the teeming population of Nigeria.

“We will ensure that the equipment and farm inputs procured by the ministry get directly to the people they are meant for (farmers) because they are the bedrock of government investment designed to achieve the government’s policy of economic diversification and growth through the agricultural sector,” he said.

The minister said farming equipment would be subsidised to show the government’s commitment and determination to improve farmers production capacity and actualise the food sufficiency policy and income generation of the current administration.

In his remarks, the North West Zonal Director, FMARD, Mathew Owolabi, pledged the support of the zone to achieve its mandate and the Next Level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari in the agriculture sector, in terms of job creation, economic growth and food security.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/agriculture/agric-news/360990-border-closure-nigerian-rice-farmers-smiling-to-the-bank-minister.html?

All the best Mr BUBU, let the border remain close!

You mean they are smiling to the bank after making Nigerians pay outrageous amount for local rice? Rice that they cannot properly destone, sort and polish? Must we pay heavy amount for poor products?

i love dis country , anybody that is benefiting from the govt , ll always have what to say

It's actually good news if "our Nigerian rice farmers" are smiling to the bank o...it's about time

This minister that cannot differentiate between his left and right hand. Just like his pay master.

Any guy/man who doesn't eat Fufu is a gay...











Goodnight

Rice that is full of stone, and very expensive for that matter.

These over grown appe aboki often makes me smile

Smile to the bank keel u dere

tell me another one please.

Ok, if they can smile to the bank with this stoning rice.
You can imagine the smiles if it's properly refined.
It's not just empowering them by shorting the border for them to smile but how much more have you educates them ? What policy have you put in place for them to refine good rice without stone and how have you strategise them to match up the public demands ?

#YeyeSetOfPeople.

Nigerians love Rice sha!!!

Be like say border closure nor dey affect Beans and yam..

He said they work tirelessly even without assistance from the government to improve the country’s economy and put food on the table of Nigerian homes.

No food for a lazy man.
The Lazy youths that are not ready to work will all be at the wits end, while the hardworking and honest Nigerians are smiling to the bank everyday.

We look at agriculture as an enterprising business and we assure Nigerians of better jobs from the type of growth that will result from it,” he said.

Slow and steady we are moving to a New and better Nigeria.
God bless our darling nation.

The minister also assured farmers that the government will sell equipment to them at 50 per cent discount.

Good governance.
God bless our darling President Muhammadu Buhari for all that he is doing to make our once battered and raped nation work again.
It will end in praise.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

Farmers whose crops are being destroyed by fulani herdsmen grazing on their farmlands, and if they resist they are killed.

nextstep:
tell me another one please.

Another one?
From the next step to the NEXT LEVEL!

Your moniker Confirms it all!

Some people ask; where are the achievements? Well, if they are of such mindset, unfortunately they can't be helped. We don't have the authority to mix spittle with clay, put on their eyes, and direct them to go to Siloam pool, wash, and come back seeing. Once anybody decides to be willfully blind, no matter what you push in front of his eyes, he wouldn't see. If he decides to be willfully deaf, even if there are thunder peals by his ears, he won't hear.

But is this enough reason to send soldiers to people's shops in search of foreign Rice and any shop that it is found will be looted by the soldiers?
I witnessed it here in Asaba and its so disheartening, there's this woman that over 200+ bags was taken away from her shop. This isn't just right in any way coz most of these women borrowed money to run their businesses.
The govt could've given them some time in order to sell out their old stock.

Good Development

Tell us something new.. Which yeye farmers? Farmers that pack stones inside bag and call it rice, is that one farmer?
Farmers that can't carter for the need of the whole country, is that one farmer?

Yeye minister that does not even eat local rice

Really

good for them,,
so FG closed d border cuz of rice
haha

Las Las we go dey alright in dx country... When one door closes... Another one will surely open.

Kindly call or whatsapp 0-8_092_15_1959 if you need any Brand New or American used Samsung or iPhone (Phones)...I also have laptops of all brand(types)...Bless up Fam

For the 1st time, local rice sells for 24k in Ph!
I really feel empathy for the poor in this country!

[s]

post=83745914:
Okay

[/s]

Okay

OK ooh...I no even know say na only rice wey we dey import in dx country.

Nigeria(n) government just dey fry akara on top people head every day....new story and strategy

Meanwhile... If you need Pure Original HOney.. Call or whatsapp 0"8"101"66"67'71 Thanks

By selling us 50kg worth of stones ,yeah right!

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

post=83745914:
Okay

Have never seen someone so jobless and inept like you dude.
How can masturbating all over topics on Nairaland be your work on a daily.
Dude you dey try shaa.
Which time you come dey get for your grills

This fools think it’s only Rice Nigerians eat..

What about other businesses like herd n skin, textile etc??

If your rice is so good and cheap why would I go and buy foreign rice expensive??
A country who can’t provide 20hrs security will NEVER be self sufficient in anything on earth apart from darkness..