Post by Trade facilitator on Jan 13, 2020 20:48:57 GMT 1
BRINGING JAPAN'S RICE EXPERIENCE TO NIGERIA'S RICE MILLING MACHINE
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Asia Chapter has mounted a campaign to boost farmers’ rice-producing capabilities.
Rice is one of the most-consumed staples in Nigeria with consumption per capita of 32 kilogrammes (kg), says PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational professional services network.
Given its importance, boosting its production has been accorded high priority by the government. So far, significant progress has been made with increase in local rice production.
The efforts are starting to yield results, and Nigeria is now producing 3.7 million tonnes of rice annually, according to the US Department of Agriculture, World Markets and Trade.
But the nation consumes almost seven million tonnes a year. To boost food security, the government has curbed imports and is trying to encourage more rice production. But there’s still a lot more work to be done.
Despite this, rice statistics suggest there is an enormous potential to raise productivity and increase production. More rice is needed to meet the population which is growing at three per cent per year.
As a result, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Asia Chapter has mounted a campaign to boost local production with increased mechanisation to raise yields, reduce post-harvest losses and increase income generated by farmers.
One of the critical constraints in developing rice value chain is low quality rice. For the association, it has become critical to improve the quality of rice produced, processed and marketed in the country.
For a start, NIDO is providing agricultural machinery to increase rice production.
Speaking in Lagos, the President, NIDO, Asia Chapter, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, said the association and its Japanese partners were introducing the modular integrated processor to farmers. The machine handles pre-cleaning, hulling and sorting functions.
Ejiogu said training on the machine operation was given to operators and processors. According to him, the association is ready to work with famers to introduce good rice varieties suitable for the local characteristics and extended production techniques for those varieties.
On the border closure, he lauded the government, saying:“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari on the border closure and urge all hands to be on deck to ensure that the era of foreign rice is over in Nigeria. “If all Nigerians buy and eat local rice, it will not only boost the economy of the country but also generate more employment for jobless youths.”
The Public Relations Officer, NIDO Asia, Ochade Osekwe, an engineer, said the organisation was the umbrella body of Nigerians living in Asia. According to him, improving food security has become a priority to boost rural development and alleviate poverty.
He said it was part of NIDO’s contributions to ensure that rice produced locally met demands. He said the group put importance on sharing Japan’s experiences in agricultural development.
He said it was valuable for Nigerian farmers to learn about Japan’s agricultural system to enable them increase food production using simple technologies.
He said the group was determined to support small-scale farmers to acquire rice processing skills and technologies to further strengthen their capacity to improve quality.
Under the campaign, Osekwe said NIDO was working with technical experts from Kanryu Industry Limited, Japan; Ino Inc, Japan and Mirai Denchi Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Mirai Denchi lnc, Japan.
He said NIDO was ready to work with the Federal Government to achieve long-term and nationwide food security.
During the workshop, the experts from Japan taught and practically demonstrated the use of machines in rice production.
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Asia Chapter has mounted a campaign to boost farmers’ rice-producing capabilities.
Rice is one of the most-consumed staples in Nigeria with consumption per capita of 32 kilogrammes (kg), says PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational professional services network.
Given its importance, boosting its production has been accorded high priority by the government. So far, significant progress has been made with increase in local rice production.
The efforts are starting to yield results, and Nigeria is now producing 3.7 million tonnes of rice annually, according to the US Department of Agriculture, World Markets and Trade.
But the nation consumes almost seven million tonnes a year. To boost food security, the government has curbed imports and is trying to encourage more rice production. But there’s still a lot more work to be done.
Despite this, rice statistics suggest there is an enormous potential to raise productivity and increase production. More rice is needed to meet the population which is growing at three per cent per year.
As a result, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Asia Chapter has mounted a campaign to boost local production with increased mechanisation to raise yields, reduce post-harvest losses and increase income generated by farmers.
One of the critical constraints in developing rice value chain is low quality rice. For the association, it has become critical to improve the quality of rice produced, processed and marketed in the country.
For a start, NIDO is providing agricultural machinery to increase rice production.
Speaking in Lagos, the President, NIDO, Asia Chapter, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, said the association and its Japanese partners were introducing the modular integrated processor to farmers. The machine handles pre-cleaning, hulling and sorting functions.
Ejiogu said training on the machine operation was given to operators and processors. According to him, the association is ready to work with famers to introduce good rice varieties suitable for the local characteristics and extended production techniques for those varieties.
On the border closure, he lauded the government, saying:“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari on the border closure and urge all hands to be on deck to ensure that the era of foreign rice is over in Nigeria. “If all Nigerians buy and eat local rice, it will not only boost the economy of the country but also generate more employment for jobless youths.”
The Public Relations Officer, NIDO Asia, Ochade Osekwe, an engineer, said the organisation was the umbrella body of Nigerians living in Asia. According to him, improving food security has become a priority to boost rural development and alleviate poverty.
He said it was part of NIDO’s contributions to ensure that rice produced locally met demands. He said the group put importance on sharing Japan’s experiences in agricultural development.
He said it was valuable for Nigerian farmers to learn about Japan’s agricultural system to enable them increase food production using simple technologies.
He said the group was determined to support small-scale farmers to acquire rice processing skills and technologies to further strengthen their capacity to improve quality.
Under the campaign, Osekwe said NIDO was working with technical experts from Kanryu Industry Limited, Japan; Ino Inc, Japan and Mirai Denchi Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Mirai Denchi lnc, Japan.
He said NIDO was ready to work with the Federal Government to achieve long-term and nationwide food security.
During the workshop, the experts from Japan taught and practically demonstrated the use of machines in rice production.
