The Rice Farmers Producers Association of Nigeria Lagos state chapter has said that the federal government should encourage indigenous rice producers rather than allowing imports.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of RIFAN Lagos state, Mr. Rapheal Hunsa, in the recent policy shift of the federal government to allow duty-free imports for the next 150 days in a bid to crash the prices of the produce, according to NAN.
Hunsa stated that the strategy is completely detrimental to farmers and that the federal government should encourage them in the same way that governments in countries from whom we import encourage their farmers.
He said “The import duties exception the government has granted for rice imports will greatly affect local rice production.
“This will license and give opportunities to businessmen to import their rice free of charge. This development is not encouraging to local rice farmers at all, it is not beneficial to us. This means the government is encouraging more rice imports at the detriment of our local rice.”
He noted that the policy is not beneficial to farmers at all and that the federal government should encourage just as governments of countries we import from encouraged their local farmers.
He stated, “The import duties exception the government has granted for rice imports will greatly affect local rice production.
“This will license and give opportunities to businessmen to import their rice free of charge. This development is not encouraging to local rice farmers at all, it is not beneficial to us. This means the government is encouraging more rice imports at the detriment of our local rice.”
He continued “What we are asking the government to do, is to empower local rice farmers so that the country will move forward. The countries we are importing from, if their government did not empower their farmers for increased rice production, they will not produce enough to export.”
“So, let our government support rice farmers too, and let this support get to the right people, so it will not be a scam. We believe some groups of persons have confused and advised this government wrongly on this policy.
“Rice farmers are not happy about this policy, we are disadvantaged by it. We were not considered in this policy formulation,”
Recall it was previously reported that the federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, had disclosed intentions for duty-free imports of certain food commodities such as rice, maize, and wheat.
This effort aims to boost food production and replenish the government’s strategic grain reserve. The Minister of Agriculture has affirmed that the government intends to lower food costs in the second half of the year.
Nigeria is currently grappling with the biggest food crisis in a generation, with food inflation surpassing 40% by May 2024. The NBS data shows that the cost of staple items such as rice, maize, wheat, bread, and beans has more than doubled in the last year.
