NAN-AE-7
Rice
By Okon Edem
Abuja, Nov.7, 2016 (NAN) A don, Prof. Bola Okuneye, on Monday called on Nigerians to patronise locally produced rice to stimulate increased productivity and ensure import substitution.
Okuneye, a professor of Agric Economics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja at the unveiling of the progress of FADAMA III Additional Financing projects, aimed at increased rice production in the country.
He advised Nigerians not to embrace foreign rice to the detriment of the locally produced one.
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“As the sole consultant with FADAMA programmes, I could see the reality of farmers really willing to adopt the innovation and to demonstrate the goodness of the various innovations they are adopting.
“I could say that with more encouragement, they can expand, when they continually use the improved practice“
“The FADAMA groups here are doing excellently well.
“And if the various farmers are properly mobilised and sensitised, I know that they can do more and they can do better.
“Consumers of rice don’t want to see stones in our rice.
“If proper processing is done and because it is being produced locally and is therefore very fresh unlike those being imported usually after about four to five years, the freshness will increase our nutritional level.
“And therefore, we should expect Nigeria to stop the importation of rice within the next five years.’’
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According to him, imported rice is usually produced and kept for long periods before it is exported to other countries including Nigeria.
Okuneye, who is also a consultant to the World Bank, therefore, urged more farmers to engage in rice production, stressing that prompt release of farm inputs by relevant authorities to farmers would boost production. (NAN)
MZM/LAB/YEE
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim
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