Post by Trade facilitator on Jan 29, 2023 17:14:45 GMT 1
Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian Rice) or, less commonly, Oryza glaberrima (African Rice). It has a variety of species. The name wild Rice is usually used for species of the genera Zizania and Porteresia, both wild and domesticated. However, the term may also be used for primitive or uncultivated varieties of Oryza.
Rice crops need a hot and humid climate. It is best suited to regions with high humidity, prolonged sunshine and an assured water supply. The average temperature required throughout the life period of the crop ranges from 21 to 37º C.
In Nigeria today, Rice is widely consumed. So many farmers have utilized the abundance of land to farm and cultivate Rice. The major problems associated with rice production include drought, flooding, salt stress and extreme weather conditions. Rice farming in Nigeria is common in the northern part of the country. Still, Nigeria's major rice-producing states are Kano State, Gombe State, Niger State, Kebbi State, Ebonyi State, Anambra State, Nasarawa State, and Ogun State.
Rice can be classified in terms of its colour from brown to white as it has implications on its nutritional status. Brown Rice has more nutritional content than white Rice because they are less processed and retain more nutritional value in the form of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It can also be classified into different varieties in terms of size, which are long-grain, medium-grain, short-grain, sweet, aromatic, and Arborio.
Facts have shown that Rice is one of the most consumed staples in Nigeria, with a consumption per capita of 32kg. In the past decade, consumption has increased by 4.7%, almost four times the global consumption growth, and reached 6.4 million tonnes in 2017 — accounting for c.20% of Africa's consumption. As of 2011, Rice accounted for 10% of household food spending and 6.6% of total household spending. Given the importance of Rice as a staple food in Nigeria, boosting its production has been accorded high priority by the government in the past 7 years.
To further encourage home farmers, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly talked up plans to achieve food sufficiency and boost local agriculture with Rice as a centerpiece of that strategy. To that end, a crackdown on rice imports with tariffs and levies totalling 70% and a $150 million loan scheme for local rice farmers were implemented. The idea the government had was to make imports less attractive while also boosting the production and consumption of local Rice.
Significant progress has been recorded; rice production in Nigeria reached a peak of 3.7 million tonnes in 2017. Rice farming generates more income for Nigerian farmers than other cash crops in the country because more than 75% consume the crop; it cuts across ethnic and religious divides in the country and Africa's most populous country and is consumed across households, from low to high-income. Over time, Rice has evolved from being regarded as a luxury dish to an everyday meal.
Considering the impact on the economy, in spite that the majority of rice farmers are small-scale, its impacts on the nation's economy are very significant, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Nigeria is the largest producer of Rice in Africa, producing about 8,435,000 tonnes annually, followed by Egypt, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mali; this is a great height of stabilizing the economy.
Despite the contribution of oil to the economy reducing by 10.73%, Nigeria's GDP for Q3 2021 grew by 4.03%, and this was partly because agriculture in Nigeria's contribution to the country's GDP grew by 6.16% from 23.78% in Q2 2021 to 29.94% in Q3 2021. Crop production, which includes rice production, accounted for 92.45% of agriculture's GDP in Q3 2021. This indicates that Nigeria needs to improve its rice production capacity to steer economic growth further.
We would not dispute that it also creates employment opportunities for intending farmers.
Rice crops need a hot and humid climate. It is best suited to regions with high humidity, prolonged sunshine and an assured water supply. The average temperature required throughout the life period of the crop ranges from 21 to 37º C.
In Nigeria today, Rice is widely consumed. So many farmers have utilized the abundance of land to farm and cultivate Rice. The major problems associated with rice production include drought, flooding, salt stress and extreme weather conditions. Rice farming in Nigeria is common in the northern part of the country. Still, Nigeria's major rice-producing states are Kano State, Gombe State, Niger State, Kebbi State, Ebonyi State, Anambra State, Nasarawa State, and Ogun State.
Rice can be classified in terms of its colour from brown to white as it has implications on its nutritional status. Brown Rice has more nutritional content than white Rice because they are less processed and retain more nutritional value in the form of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It can also be classified into different varieties in terms of size, which are long-grain, medium-grain, short-grain, sweet, aromatic, and Arborio.
Facts have shown that Rice is one of the most consumed staples in Nigeria, with a consumption per capita of 32kg. In the past decade, consumption has increased by 4.7%, almost four times the global consumption growth, and reached 6.4 million tonnes in 2017 — accounting for c.20% of Africa's consumption. As of 2011, Rice accounted for 10% of household food spending and 6.6% of total household spending. Given the importance of Rice as a staple food in Nigeria, boosting its production has been accorded high priority by the government in the past 7 years.
To further encourage home farmers, Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly talked up plans to achieve food sufficiency and boost local agriculture with Rice as a centerpiece of that strategy. To that end, a crackdown on rice imports with tariffs and levies totalling 70% and a $150 million loan scheme for local rice farmers were implemented. The idea the government had was to make imports less attractive while also boosting the production and consumption of local Rice.
Significant progress has been recorded; rice production in Nigeria reached a peak of 3.7 million tonnes in 2017. Rice farming generates more income for Nigerian farmers than other cash crops in the country because more than 75% consume the crop; it cuts across ethnic and religious divides in the country and Africa's most populous country and is consumed across households, from low to high-income. Over time, Rice has evolved from being regarded as a luxury dish to an everyday meal.
Considering the impact on the economy, in spite that the majority of rice farmers are small-scale, its impacts on the nation's economy are very significant, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Nigeria is the largest producer of Rice in Africa, producing about 8,435,000 tonnes annually, followed by Egypt, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mali; this is a great height of stabilizing the economy.
Despite the contribution of oil to the economy reducing by 10.73%, Nigeria's GDP for Q3 2021 grew by 4.03%, and this was partly because agriculture in Nigeria's contribution to the country's GDP grew by 6.16% from 23.78% in Q2 2021 to 29.94% in Q3 2021. Crop production, which includes rice production, accounted for 92.45% of agriculture's GDP in Q3 2021. This indicates that Nigeria needs to improve its rice production capacity to steer economic growth further.
We would not dispute that it also creates employment opportunities for intending farmers.
