Rice farmers give reasons for sudden hike in price of one of Nigeria’s popular foods

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), has explained the reasons behind the sudden hike in the price of one of the most popular foods in the country.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the association, Raphael Hunsa, explained that the country’s rice production is being impacted by a number of factors, including a shortage of labour, outdated machinery, insufficient state and Federal Government support and insecurity.

He disclosed this in a press briefing in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

The chairman of the association called for immediate support from the Federal Government to strengthen farmers to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.

“Rice farmers are not much, we are just educating and encouraging people to come into the value chain so that we can have more paddy and milling all-year-round.

“We want government to support us by providing all the equipment required for rice cultivation. We need to combine harvester, tractor, planter, and other modern machineries that can move us forward and improve our rice production level.

“Without all these modern machineries, we cannot achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. We cannot move forward if we remain in our local practice, we will just be producing for consumption.”

Hunsa highlighted the need for more government intervention in rice production, saying “Other countries like Indonesia, Pakistan and India support their rice farmers with modern mechanised equipment and seedlings.

“Their governments support them heavily and that is why the farmers in those countries produce rice in large quantities.

“What is stopping us in Nigeria from producing rice sufficiently? We have the land, we have the weather and human resources.

“What we are lacking is full commitment and investment in rice cultivation on the part of the government.

“Those countries that we are importing rice from, we also can do better than them if we get the right support.

“Nigeria can also export our local rice if government concentrates and gives us all the needed support.”

Ahead of the festive season, he hinted that rice may go up in price because the commodity is not currently in abundance.

“The rice in circulation won’t be enough but we will manage it though it will be expensive,” he stated.