Despite ‘self-sufficiency’ claim, Nigerians battling with soaring price of rice

The declaration by the President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Aminu Goronyo, few weeks back, that the country is now self-sufficient in rice production, could be perceived as a soothing balm to the already distraught Nigerians, who are struggling to survive this harsh living condition. Goronyo, who spoke in Kaduna, during the inauguration of sale of rice paddy to millers, said the country’s local rice production has increased from two million tonnes in 2015 to nine million tonnes in 2021. The local rice production, which increased by 77.8 per cent and valued at $4.05b was attributed to the Federal Government’s intervention through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). “Before the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015, we used to produce just about two million metric tonnes of rice paddies yearly. “Today, we can boast of nine million metric tonnes yearly; there is a clear difference and now we can boldly ...