The Nation Newspaper

Tag: imported rice

  • Price of imported rice drops in March – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said average price of one kilogramme (kg) of rice (imported high quality sold loose) decreased month-on-month in March.

    The NBS said this in its “Selected Food Price Watch (March 2019)’’ report released on its website.

    The bureau said rice price decreased year-on-year by -0.39 per cent and decreased month-on-month by -0.68 per cent to N361.90 in March from N364.38 in February.

    Similarly, the bureau said average price of one kg of yam tuber decreased year-on-year by -21.07 per cent and month-on month by -2.71 per cent to N200.88 in March from N206.48 in February.

    Also, it said average price of one dozen of Agric eggs medium size decreased year-on-year by -12.80 per cent and month-on-month by -0.96 per cent to N459.80 in March from N464.26 in February.

    In addition, it said average price of piece of Agric eggs medium size (price of one) increased year-on-year by 1.73 per cent and decrease month-on-month by -0.74 per cent to N41.91 in March from N42.23 in February.

    According to the report, the average price of one kg of tomato decreased year-on-year by -10.03 per cent and month-on-month by -6.32 per cent to N240.29 in March from N256.50 in February.

    The NBS said field work for the report was done by over 700 NBS staff in all states of the federation supported by supervisors who were monitored by internal and external observers.

    Prices were collected across all the 774 local governments of the federation and the FCT from over 10,000 respondents and locations; they reflected actual prices households stated they actually bought those items.

    The average of all these prices was then reported for each state and average for the country was the average for the state.

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  • Police seize vehicles with imported rice, frozen foods

    Police seize vehicles with imported rice, frozen foods

    The police yesterday impounded six vehicles allegedly carrying smuggled rice and frozen foods.

    The vehicles were intercepted on Daleko Bridge in Mushin by the Area D Commander, Akinbayo Olasoji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    According to the police, three persons were arrested over the matter.

    Four of the vehicles had about 220 bags of rice; the other two carried several cartons of frozen chicken and turkey.

    The command’s spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said : “A team of policemen led by the Area Commander were on the bridge to ensure one-way driving was discontinued when they sighted the suspicious vehicles.

    “Upon interrogation, it was discovered that the vehicles were carrying smuggled rice and frozen foods. Smuggling of contraband is a serious economic crime.

    “The Federal Government has placed a ban on importation of rice and frozen foods but some people still engage in it illegally, especially this during this festive period.

    “Such people are warned to desist from such acts. The Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi has made it clear that criminality would not be tolerated.

    “Those who have been engaging in such acts should stop or relocate from the state. The suspects and items were handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service  (NCS) for further action.”

  • Fed Govt backs Umahi’s ban on sale of imported rice

    Fed Govt backs Umahi’s ban on sale of imported rice

    The Federal Government has said it is supporting Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi’s ban on the sale of foreign rice in the state.
    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audi Ogbe, spoke of Federal Government’s support for the governor’s action when he visited Ettem Amagu Rice Farm in Ikwo Local Government Area during his assessment of agricultural potential of the state.
    Ogbeh, who was in company with the Chairman of Presidential Committee on Rice Production, Abubakar Bagudu and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, hailed Umahi for his agricultural policy, particularly ensuring massive rice production in the state.
    He said: “Mr Governor, I hear you banned the sale of foreign rice in your state. God bless you for it. I also hear you invited young men to return from Lagos and work here. God bless you also for it. They will be happier here in this state than living under the bridge or substandard accommodation in Lagos, Abuja or elsewhere.”
    A statement at the weekend by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said the minister advised youths to key into agriculture to diversify the economy and see it as a way out of the current recession.
    He promised to bring agricultural equipment, such as rice harvesters, threshers, par-boiling drums, to Ebonyi State.
    Ogbe said: “By the middle of last week, I had some machines ready for you (Ebonyi State). These include threshers and even new par-boiling drums, which operate differently from what women are using. When those machines come, young men will be thought how to enter a farm and harvest rice for farmers. These young men and farmers will make so much money to the extent that they will become millionaires in the villages. So, wealth is here (in farming).”
    The minister, who also announced Federal Government’s plan to plant 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts and set up two cashew roasting plants in Ebonyi State early next year, expressed satisfaction with what he saw at Ettem Amagu and Akueze Rice farms.
    The minister described Ebonyi farmers as the real heroes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s push to diversify the economy, especially through agriculture.
    He said: “Mr Governor, next year, we shall plant for you 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts at 500 hectares in each of the three senatorial districts in your state. We shall also build for you two factories here for roasting cashew.”
    Ogbe also promised that the Federal Government would rehabilitate the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam to encourage dry season rice cultivation in the state.
    The minister noted that under Operation 1,037 of the Federal Government, a minimum of 10 dams per state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be built.
    Emefiele said the apex bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme would begin next year to boost farming and tackle the challenges confronting farmers.
    The CBN also pledged the bank’s readiness to participate in the clearing and re-dredging of the Ettem Amagu Dam.
    The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Rice Production and Kebbi State Governor Bagudu said what he saw in rice-producing states showed that the country had achieved self-sufficiency in rice production and should plan rice export.
    He said: “The success recorded in the last one year is phenomenal. What we have seen in terms of rice output seems to suggest that the goal of self-sufficiency, which we hitherto thought would be achieved in 2017, might have already been achieved.”
    Umahi hailed President Buhari for reviving agriculture across the country.
    The governor expressed the readiness of his administration to partner the Federal Government in all-season farming.
    He said: “There are over 30 dams in this state. They are recharged by very near streams. So, we want assistance from the Federal Government in irrigation. We want assistance for the money to farmers. We want assistance in biomass plants. The cost of buying diesel and maintenance is too high. We also need harvesters to assist our farmers.”

    The team also visited the state’s modern rice mills at Oso-Edda and Ikwo, where they saw live processed rice rolling out of the machines.
    They were also taken to the popular Abakaliki Rice Mill where they witnessed the processing of rice paddies with locally-fabricated machines.
    Before leaving the Government House, the team saw mountains of rice husk in the Abakaliki rice mill, which the Umahi administration said it would use to generate electricity.

  • Fed Govt backs Umahi’s ban on sale of imported rice

    Fed Govt backs Umahi’s ban on sale of imported rice

    The Federal Government has said it is supporting Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi’s ban on the sale of foreign rice in the state.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audi Ogbe, spoke of Federal Government’s support for the governor’s action when he visited Ettem Amagu Rice Farm in Ikwo Local Government Area during his assessment of agricultural potential of   the state.

    Ogbeh, who was in company with the Chairman of Presidential Committee on Rice Production, Abubakar Bagudu and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, hailed Umahi for his agricultural policy, particularly ensuring massive rice production in the state.

    He said: “Mr Governor, I hear you banned the sale of foreign rice in your state. God bless you for it. I also hear you invited young men to return from Lagos and work here. God bless you also for it. They will be happier here in this state than living under the bridge or substandard accommodation in Lagos, Abuja or elsewhere.”

    A statement at the weekend by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said the minister advised youths to key into agriculture to diversify the economy and see it as a way out of the current recession.

    He promised to bring agricultural equipment, such as rice harvesters, threshers, par-boiling drums, to Ebonyi State.

    Ogbe said: “By the middle of last week, I had some machines ready for you (Ebonyi State). These include threshers and even new par-boiling drums, which operate differently from what women are using. When those machines come, young men will be thought how to enter a farm and harvest rice for farmers. These young men and farmers will make so much money to the extent that they will become millionaires in the villages. So, wealth is here (in farming).”

    The minister, who also announced Federal Government’s plan to plant 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts and set up two cashew roasting plants in Ebonyi State early next year, expressed satisfaction with what he saw at Ettem Amagu and Akueze Rice farms.

    The minister described Ebonyi farmers as the real heroes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s push to diversify the economy, especially through agriculture.

    He said: “Mr Governor, next year, we shall plant for you 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts at 500 hectares in each of the three senatorial districts in your state. We shall also build for you two factories here for roasting cashew.”

    Ogbe also promised that the Federal Government would rehabilitate the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam to encourage dry season rice cultivation in the state.

    The minister noted that under Operation 1,037 of the Federal Government, a minimum of 10 dams per state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be built.

    Emefiele said the apex bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme would begin next year to boost farming   and tackle the challenges confronting farmers.

    The CBN also pledged the bank’s readiness to participate in the clearing and re-dredging of the Ettem Amagu Dam.

    The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Rice Production and Kebbi State Governor Bagudu said what he saw in rice-producing states showed that the country had achieved self-sufficiency in rice production and should plan rice export.

    He said: “The success recorded in the last one year is phenomenal. What we have seen in terms of rice output seems to suggest that the goal of self-sufficiency, which we hitherto thought would be achieved in 2017, might have already been achieved.”

    Umahi hailed President Buhari for reviving agriculture across the country.

    The governor expressed the readiness of his administration to partner the Federal Government in all-season farming.

    He said: “There are over 30 dams in this state. They are recharged by very near streams. So, we want assistance from the Federal Government in irrigation. We want assistance for the money to farmers. We want assistance in biomass plants. The cost of buying diesel and maintenance is too high. We also need harvesters to assist our farmers.”

  • Presidential committee seeks total ban of imported rice

    Presidential committee seeks total ban of imported rice

    THE federal government has restated its commitment to achieve complete ban of imported rice into the country.

    The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Trade Malpractices, Mallam Dahiru Ado-Kurawa, said the government would also increase incentives for local rice farmers from next year so as to improve on local production of the commodity.

    He disclosed that the meeting was to deliberate on the existing policy on rice import and subsequently draft an adjustment in the policy ahead of 2014.

    Speaking during a meeting with the president, Rice Importers, Millers and Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, and other stakeholders at the weekend in Abuja, Kurawa said no government policy is designed to frustrate the public, adding that they were designed for the interest of the people.

    While he emphasised that import duty was increased at the commencement of the year to discourage rice import, he noted that it was part of the responsibilities of the federal government to review policies to ensure rice sufficiency in the country.

    He noted that the country was a major importer of maize about 30years ago but presently produces enough locally.

    However, he said rice import into the country had reduced significantly. He stated that over 4million tons of rice was imported into the country with 1.2million tons of imported.

    He said about 2million tons of rice was imported in the preceding years, while 3million tons were locally produced.

    Kurawa assured that such effort will be replicated to make sure that rice consumed in the country is being produced locally.

    Speaking on rice smuggled into the country from neighbouring countries, especially from free trade zones, Kurawa said it is easier to control because they are within the nation’s territory.

    He added that the country will investigate the matter and manage activities of the free trade zone more efficiently.

    In his remark, Owoeye said that government has been sensitive to issues surrounding the commodity and to ensure the country is self sufficient in rice production.

    He added that the meeting addressed the need for more incentives for rice farmers and processors.

    Owoeye disclosed that an estimated sum of N1 billion is being lost daily to rice import.

  • ‘Nigerians consume 15-year old imported rice’

    ‘Nigerians consume 15-year old imported rice’

    • Fed Govt laments tomato paste import from China, Italy

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has decried the consumption of 15 years old rice being imported into the country from Indonesia and other major rice producing countries.

    Adesina who pleaded for the consumption of local staple foods, especially rice, said the country had taken a step backward from being the largest rice importer, to replace China.

    He said Nigeria through the adoption of new technology and effective implementation of good policies, would be capable of being self sufficient in rice production by 2015.

    Adesina, who spoke at the inauguration of 13 Board Chairmen of the Ministry’s Institutes, Agencies and Parastatals, said that between 2012 and 2013, local farmers were able to produce over 1.7 million metric tons of paddy rice, which according to him, was about 50 percent of what the country needed to be independent in producing the commodity.

    He said: “Well-packaged, long grain parboiled local rice is now on the market. It is tastier and healthier than the 15 year-old imported rice dumped on the Nigerian market. We will soon be free from rice imports!”

    According to him, about 14 large-scale integrated rice mills have been established by private sectors within two years, where quality long-grained local parboiled rice was being produced.

    However, the Minister decried the country’s huge tomato paste import from China and Italy. He described the trend as unacceptable stressing that about 45 percent of tomato planted in Kano accounts for post harvest loses.

    He restated that the federal government Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) was not a ‘political slogan’ but a developmental approach to pull the nation out of poverty and food imports.

    “Nigeria has great people with great potential therefore we have no business importing foods. Potential is good but nobody eats potential, we need to make it work,” he added.

    Speaking on the inauguration, Adesina reminded the chairmen and their members of their duties to solely advise and ensure rancour free management of the institutes.

    He said it would not be business as usual, adding that it would not be the duty of the board to engage in daily administration of the research institutes but to support them and the present administration to achieve its development agenda on the agric sector.