Farmer optimistic FG’s rice production scheme will stop importation in 3 years


 A rice farmer, Malam Salisu Umar, has expressed optimism that the Federal Government’s rice production scheme will stop the massive importation of the commodity in the next three years.
Umar said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia on Tuesday.
According to him, the scheme has the capacity to develop the rice value chain.
The farmer added that the scheme could guarantee food security in the country as well as create job opportunities and wealth for farmers and others interested in agri-business.
``With this programme, rice farmers will develop the capacity to substitute foreign rice in Nigeria with paddy rice.
``I am sure that in the next two to three years this importation problem will reduce to a minimum.”
He expressed satisfaction with the federal and state governments’ efforts at encouraging farmers to specialise in the production of commodities for both domestic consumption and export.
The rice farmer advised the government at all levels to address the problems farmers face in accessing agricultural loans and procuring inputs such as fertiliser, herbicides, and pesticides.
Umar also stressed the need for government to carry farmer associations along in the formulation of agricultural development programmes to enable them to work in line with the aims and objectives of the policies.

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