The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rice importation

  • 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.

  • Rice importation will end soon, says Bagudu

    Rice importation will end soon, says Bagudu

    The Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on Friday expressed optimism that with the high level of rice production in the country, Nigeria will soon end importation of the product.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Bagudu, who was accompanied to the Villa by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, said that the policy of the Federal Government which supports farmers and domestic production was yielding positive results that have already witnessed drastic reduction in the importation of rice.

    He said that records from the Ministry of Agriculture showed that rice importation in the country has gone down to about 80 percent  and will continue to fall.

    The governor noted that policy reversals in the past did not only affect farmers but the complete value chain of production.

    Asked whether rice importation will end soon, he said “indeed so”.

    “We all thank the policy because it is the policy of the federal government 36 states of the federation produce rice but what has happened is that periodic policy reversals have held the farmers back, but now we have a policy that supports domestic production.

    “We have a policy according to the minister of agriculture, import of rice has gone down by over 80%, he also announced that this year we will be producing enough to meet our national self-sufficiency quest, all thanks to the policy,”.

    On the recent commissioning of the WACOT rice parboiling mill worth N10 billion in his state, governor Bagudu said that it was an indication that the policy framework of the federal government on agriculture was working. The rice mill was commissioned by acting President Osinbajo.

    He said “it signifies that the policy framework of the federal government is working and we want to thank the Federal government for that.  President Muhammadu Buhari, was in Kebbi in November 2015 and planted the seed.

    “The acting president now wants to end the value chain by commissioning a mill that will process such rice   that is being produced by our teeming populace,” he noted.

    The governor said that the WACOT rice mill was already producing and distributing across the country.

     

  • Nigeria won’t import rice next year – IFAD

    Nigeria won’t import rice next year – IFAD

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD) has expressed optimism that the nation would not import rice in 2018 as the nation is gradually moving toward self sufficiency in rice production.

    The IFAD Country Programme Officer in Nigeria, Dr. Odoemena Ben said that with the attention been paid by governments at all levels and international agencies on rice production, the sector has received a boost.

    Ben who stated this during the 5th IFAD Supervision Mission to Niger state said,  “Nigeria is heading for self sufficiency of rice before the end of 2017. I am very sure that if the path of what we are doing continues, we will be self sufficient in rice production. By next year, Nigeria will be able to export rice .”

    He said that with the investment made in rice this year, the farmers across the country can produce more than three million metric tonnes of rice which would be more than enough until the next rice planting season.

    The state IFAD Project Coordinator, Dr. Ahmed Mathew said that over N83 million has been expended for infrastructures for Rural Farmers in Niger state to provide them with basic amenities and alleviate their sufferings.

    He said that the infrastructures were provided under the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) under the programme adding that the projects will help in increasing the productivity of the farmers in the state.

    He said that Solar Powered boreholes was set up for N9.5 million, rehabilitation and construction  of warehouses gulped N23 million while others cost N33 million..

    Ahmed further said that IFAD has helped the farmers in increasing their income while he stressed on the need for the state government to pay up its counterpart fund to enable them give the farmers more infrastructures.

  • FG advised to lift ban on rice importation

    A cleric, Prophet, Muhideen Kasali has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, lift ban on the importation of rice, to alleviate the plight of the poor masses whose main diet is rice. Speaking to reporters at the end of a monthly night vigil held by Hours of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Worldwide, Ibadan Kasali said God specifically chose President Buhari to defeat the Boko Haram, expose and tackle corruption and lay a good economic foundation for the country.

    He said the president had good intention for Nigeria and has made an indelible print on the sand of time within the last two years of administration. Kasali noted that since the ban, government has not been able to produce enough rice locally to meet the people’s demand and the reasonable thing to do, is to lift the ban on rice and allow importation of the commodity, and no customs officers to go to the markets or on the high ways to seize rice.

    He urged the government to encourage and assist the willing farmers to meet local food supplies and export, to boost the nation’s foreign exchange. He said only agriculture can save Nigeria’s economy now and in future. According to him, but for Buhari’s emergence as president, the Boko Haram would have extended its operations to all parts of the country. So also was the issue of corruption.

  • ‘Don’t re-open borders for rice importation’

    ‘Don’t re-open borders for rice importation’

    The National President, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Dr Chijioke Osuji, yesterday in Kano warned President Muhammadu Buhari against succumbing to the pressures being mounted on  him to re-open the borders for rice importation.

    Speaking   at the opening ceremony of the 30th Annual Conference of the Institute with: Innovations and Upgrades for Food Value Chains, Competitiveness in Nigeria’’as its theme, at the Kano Government House Coronation Hall, he called on the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to further tighten the noose on the country’s borders to halt rice importation.

    According to him, it was sad to note that Nigeria, despite being the highest producer of cowpea, yam, sorghum and cash crops, it still remained the highest importer of food items in the world, thereby draining a large chunk of its foreign exchange to import processed food.

    Osuji noted that lack of  strong agriculture policy in the country was partly responsible for the country’s predicament, regretting that, while the oil boom lasted, the country failed to utilise proceeds from the sector to sponsor research projects on agriculture, due to Federal Government’s complacency.

    Furthermore, he argued that as soon as the Federal Government develops a strong agriculture policy, it will to a large extent address the challenges of youth unemployment.

  • FG urged to inaugurate committee on rice importation

    A freight forwarder, Alhaji Tajudeen Adetayo, on Saturday urged the Federal Government to inaugurate a committee to brainstorm on the issue of rice importation..

    Adetayo, Chairman, Freight Forwarders Association Badagry (FFAB), made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) In Lagos.

    He called for a reversal of the policy banning rice importation through the border posts.

    NAN reports that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in October 2015 lifted the ban on rice importation through the borders but the service made a reversal of the policy in March 2016, due to heavy smuggling of the commodity.

    The freight forwarder suggested that government should allow duty payment on rice through the border posts to generate more revenue.

    He recalled that the Ogun Command of the Customs Service generated over N1 billion within the short period the ban on rice through the border posts was lifted.

    Adetayo said that some people would continue to smuggle as long as government restricted rice importation through the border posts.

    “Banning rice imports is not a good omen. When Nigeria has sufficient foods, then importation of rice can be banned,’’ he told NAN.

    Adetayo said that Customs could not man all the porous routes alone.
    The freight forwarder said that activities at the border posts were also low due to the high exchange rate and the ban on rice, which had given room for smuggling.

    He, however, called on the Nigeria Police to dismantle the 30 road blocks between Idiroko, Ajielete and Ilase.

    Adetayo described the road blocks as major hindrance to trade, adding that a journey of one or two hours, might take five hours on the road.

    “We do travel to Benin Republic and Togo with three to four check points to Togo.

    “On roads leading to the border posts, the Police, Customs, everybody is at the check points

    “Customs officers have the right to be at the road blocks but the Police should not be there,’’ he told NAN.

    The freight forwarder commended the Divisional Police Officer, officers and men of the Idiroko Divisional Police Office, adding that the officers were doing their best in terms of security.

    “Car snatching, stealing have become minimal at the border posts. Commercial motorcyclists no longer move after 8.30 p.m. due to restriction of their movements,’’ NAN quotes Adetayo as saying.

  • Customs re-imposes restriction on rice importation

    Customs re-imposes restriction on rice importation

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has re-introduced the restriction order it placed on the importation of rice through land borders across the country.

    Its Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) gave  approval for the reversal of an earlier policy of October last year which allowed rice imports through land borders, once appropriate duty and charges were paid.

    At a review session with Comptrollers of Border Commands and Federal Operation Units (FOUs) in Abuja, the NCS noted that dwindling revenue from rice imports through the land borders do not match the volume of rice that landed in neighboring ports. Rather, reports from Border Commands indicated an upsurge in the tempo of rice smuggling.

    NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr.  Wale Adeniyi, in statement yesterday explained that the implementation of the restriction order got off to a smooth start, with a high level of compliance in October last year. However, revenue started dwindling from January this year with importers blaming access to foreign exchange (forex) as major impediments. During the five-month period when the importation was allowed, a total of 24.992 metric tonnes of rice valued at N 2, 335,131,093  was imported through the land borders.

  • Fed Govt: Nigeria to exit rice importation soon

    Fed Govt: Nigeria to exit rice importation soon

    •670,000 jobs created

    WITH the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s “rice revolution” gaining added momentum with a projected 2.9 million metric tons of rice from last year’s farming season, “Nigeria is already at the exit door from its importation”.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said this while inspecting a 420-hectare rice farm and mill belonging to Olam Nigeria in Rukubi, near Doma, Nasarawa State.

    He said 2.9 million metric tons of high quality milled rice was expected to be produced beginning from 2014 farming season.

    The minister added that with importation at about 1.9 to 2.0 million metric tons per annum, rice importation would soon stop.

    “We are going to be Thailand of Africa in terms of rice production and export,” Dr. Adesina said.

    The minister stated that no fewer than 670,000 jobs were created in 2013 through rice production.

    He said 1.9 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in the 2013 dry and wet seasons, contributing N320 billion to the GDP and creating 670,000 jobs in the process.

    The minister said the Federal Government was putting in place the enabling environment for production of rice on small, medium and large-scale through its Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) for the rice value chain under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) launched in 2011.

    In addition to seed and extension support to farmers, the minister said the government has provided subsidised inputs and 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).

    Dr. Adesina said 15 rice and other staple crop processing zones would be set up at various locations in Nigeria, with a projected contribution of $9.0 billion to the GDP.

    The minister, who was visibly impressed with the wide hectarages under cultivation, the growing stockpile of mill-ready paddy rice, mechanised planting and harvesting operations and land preparation for new planting and the installation of the 600 metric ton capacity mill, stated that all the factors favourable for growing and processing large quantities of rice were already in place and effectively working.

    Dr. Adesina explained that, 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 begin milling in June brings the number of mills to 13 within three years.

    He said the small mills have increased to 4,350 and growing at a yearly rate of 40 per cent.

    The minister said paddy bulking and aggregation centres, a bridge between rice farmers and millers, were going to be set up to effectively address the problems of stock supply security identified by investors in a commissioned study as a concern along with poor infrastructure and access to credit.

    The paddy bulking and aggregation centres will stock, assess and grade paddy sourced from growers with a view to creating easy access to millers that might have neither farms nor paddy supply from farmers.

    These facilities, Adesina said, would bolster Nigeria’s rice production capacity along with 15 rice and other staple crop processing zone (SCPZ) to be set up at locations in the country, with a projected contribution of adding $9.0 billion to the GDP.

    Briefing the minister and his entourage, as well as reporters who visited the Olam Farm for progress assessment, the country head of the farm, Mukul Mathur, and the Rukubi Farm Manager, Regi George, stated that Olam Farm is a subsidiary of Kewalrams Group, which has been in Nigeria for 150 years and in different sectors of agriculture for 25 years.

    He said the company’s foray into rice farming began four years ago, with the Rukubi rice farm and mill being its biggest commitment with $72 million.

  • ‘Report of rice importation through Seme false’

    A licensed Clearing and Forwarding agent, Chief Chima Amaechi has condemned what he called a bid to give clearing agents at Seme Border a bad name.

    He said a recent online report which claimed that massive importation of banned goods, such as rice, is done through the border is false.

    Amaechi, who is the Managing Director of Don King Clearing and Forwarding Agencies Limited, said agents at the border would not shield any colleague who engages in such a crime.

    Addressing reporters at his ANLCA Complex office at the border, Amaechi said the report was a calculated attempt by some disgruntled elements frustrated by the Command from carrying out their nefarious activities to spread falsehood.

    He praised the Nigerian Customs Service for its enforcement of the ban on rice importation, adding that checkpoints have been fortified with “extra vigilant officers”.

    Amaechi said even stakeholders, including clearing agents, traditional rulers and the communities around the border have resolved to work with Customs to stop importation of banned goods.

    “A grain of rice is not allowed to pass through this road, how much more of truck loads of rice and other contraband goods as alleged by the writer.

    “Go to all the check points, you will see both the young and old lamenting over hand carriers of rice and other little things been seized by Customs daily. If they could seize these little things, you can imagine where such trucks will pass.

    “If all these things come in through here, then the agents operating here will not be idle. There will not be complaints of no jobs. The Customs will be meeting up their monthly allocations.

    “From the Atlas park where we do transloading down to our offices here at the Complex and Operations 2, you will see Agents sitting idle,” Amaechi said.

  • Rice importation: Reps summon Okonjo- Iweala, Aganga, Adesina

    Rice importation: Reps summon Okonjo- Iweala, Aganga, Adesina

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Trade and Investment Minister, Olusegun Aganga and their counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, have been summoned by House of Representatives committee on customs.

    They are to answer questions pertaining to the Federal Government’s rice importation policy.

    The Federal Government policy introduced last year bans any form of rice importation into the country and has allegedly caused the country to lose over N300 billion late last year alone through actions of rice smugglers.

    Speaking on the issue yesterday, the Chairman of the committee on Customs, Hon. Sabo Mohammed Nakudu (PDP, Jigawa) said the three ministers are to appear before a public hearing to be organized by the committee on the issue.

    Letters, he said, has been written to the three ministers and other stakeholders, by the committee to inform them as well as call for position papers.

    According to the lawmaker, the committee’s decision to have a public hearing was based on a House resolution on the issue which was sequel to a motion by Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila (APC, Kano) on February 19.

    The committee chair said hearing would ascertain the level of the rice importation policy, “which has caused ripples in the country and indeed cause a high loss to the government revenue.”

    “He cited the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, which he said was over 103 years old and had remained ANC from inception.