Rice production increased by 1.2 million metric tones – FG reveals

The Federal Government has revealed that its interventions in the rice value chain led to an increase in rice production in Nigeria by 1.2 million metric tonnes within three years.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, made this known while assessing the Federal Government rice farms/mills in Omor and Umerum at Ayamelum Local Government Area, Anambra State, under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme-1.

Shehuri also stated that government would revitalise its rice farm in Anambra to boost rice production, create jobs and improve the living standard of people in the state and the region.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by the agriculture ministry’s Chief Information Officer, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the minister said, “The present administration has provided various interventions to promote investment in the rice sector.

“As a result of these interventions, the country has increased its production from 4.8 million metric tonnes of milled rice in 2015 to over six million metric tonnes by 2019 with huge reduction in the nation’s deficit.”

He said the government was also pursuing and implementing programmes to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production because of its strategic importance as a major staple food crop.