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Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, has predicted that when new investments on facilities for rice production and processing becomes fully operational, rice would be adding about $9 billion yearly to the nation’s GDP. He made this prediction in Rukubi, Nasarawa State during the inspection of the 420 hectare rice farm and mill owned by Olam Nigeria. With about 2.9million metric tonnes of high quality milled rice from local sources this year, he said that Nigeria would soon become self-sufficient in rice production and also become a potential exporter of the crop. In 2013, he said that 1.9 metric tonnes of the commodity was produced contributing N320 billion to the GDP and 670,000 jobs was created in the process. According to him, the Federal Government’s ‘rice revolution’ would make Nigeria “the Thailand of Africa in terms of rice production and export”. He added that the government is creating an enabling environment for production of rice on small, medium and large-scales through its Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) for the rice value chan under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA). He suggested that  some of the initiatives are to include the development of high-yielding long grain Farro 45 and 52 rice varieties with yield capacity of 6 to 7 metric tons per hectare as against the traditional variety farmers use to cultivate with a yield of 1.5 – 2 million tons per hectare. Adesina disclosed that these new varieties have revolutionized rice production in Nigeria, as the Ministry, through seed companies, has consistently multiplied and distributed seeds to farmers for cultivation since 2011 when the implementation GES commenced. In addition to seed and extension support to farmers, the minister listed the development and strengthening of other elements of the rice value chain, including subsidised inputs, mechanization services through Agricultural Equipment Hiring Service (AEHE) for which financing support is accessible through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Bank of Industry(BOI). The minister was visibly impressed with the wide hectar under cultivation, the growing stockpile of mill-ready paddy rice, mechanized planting and harvesting operations and land preparation for new planting going on simultaneously with the installation of the 600 metric ton capacity mill. He stated that all the factors favourable for growing and processing large quantities of rice were not only already in place in the country but effectively working. Adesina said prior to the launch of the ATA in 2011, only one integrated rice mill was in place but that in addition to 12 others, the 60, 000 ton Olam Farm mill expected to commence milling in June brings the number of mills to thirteen within three years.  
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This article was first published on 11th April 2014

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