Forum to consolidate rice value-chain gains

To consolidate the gains recorded in the nation’s rice sector as well as ensure that self-sufficiency is attained, the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) has concluded plans to hold its 4th Nigeria Rice Investment Forum to such end.

Scheduled for November 20-21, 2018 at Abuja, the organisers explained that forum through the themes, “Consolidating the Gains in the Nigeria Rice Sector (Production and Processing)” and “Effective Linkage of Actors and Efforts in the Nigeria Rice Value Chain for a Sustained Self-Sufficiency in Production”, will address issues in the rice sector.

NBGN Chairman, Dr. Nike Akande noted that the forum will bring together all actors in the nation rice sub-sector to further review the sector for decisions on necessary steps for the next phase.

According to her, that phase involves consolidating the gains recorded in the last decade in the rice subsector and as well sustaining the tempo in the next decade and more.

Akande in a statement made available to The Guardian, informed that government efforts have started yielding fruits and the nation is on her way to self-sufficiency in rice production in 2018 as projected by this administration.

“The Federal Government recently announced that the country would, in 2018, achieve rice production of seven million metric tonnes. It was equally disclosed that, the Thailand Rice Exporters’ Association recently revealed that within a spate of two years – from September, 2015 to September, 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131 metric tonnes to about 21,000 metric tonnes.

“To however sustain the tempo, there is need to consolidate the gains so far in the sector. This should essentially entail general review and evaluation of efforts in the entire rice value chain in terms of policies, direct and indirect interventions.