Switching to sewage irrigation will help Nigeria optimize rice production

Published 2023년 6월 20일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the potential solution to Nigeria's rice shortage by exploring the possibility of replicating the global best practices of China, Israel, India, and European countries in reusing wastewater for irrigation. As the continent's leading rice producer and consumer, Nigeria faces challenges such as high production costs, diseases, pests, and droughts. The article suggests that treating wastewater for irrigation could increase the rice-growing area by three times, addressing the rice shortage and supporting the nation's sustainable development goals. With Nigeria producing millions of liters of wastewater daily and a significant portion of its rice cultivation reliant on rainfall, this approach could notably boost rice availability, lower prices, and ensure self-sufficiency. However, it is crucial to ensure that wastewater is properly treated before use to avoid harming the plants or the environment.

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Original content

If Nigeria implements the world experience of China, Israel, India and a number of European countries in processing wastewater into irrigation water, the area under rice in the country can be increased by 3 times. Rice is one of the world's staple foods, ranking third after wheat and corn in terms of production and consumption. In sub-Saharan Africa, rice is the fourth largest producer after sorghum, maize and millet. Nigeria is the continent's leading rice producer with over 46% of the West African crop and a major consumer. Every year, Nigerians consume an average of US$4 billion worth of rice. With a production of 5.4 million metric tons in 2022 and a consumption of almost 7 million metric tons, Nigeria is forced to resort to imports. Problems of domestic crop production include high inflation and production costs, diseases and pests, and abiotic stresses in the form of drought. Soil for rice cultivation should ideally be slightly moist, which can be achieved with rainfall or ...

Source: Agroxxi