In the wake of the recent impact of a surge in rice prices, the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) has attributed the increase to smuggling, ongoing insecurity, and inflation while also calling on the next administration to enact new policies that will help improve the industry in the nation. In remarks made during a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, RIPAN Director General Andy Ekwelem lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for its assistance to date and pointed out means by which the next administration might develop and enhance the country’s rice sub-sector. He said the incoming government should prioritize reorganizing the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to monitor the country’s borders better.
The Nigerian rice industry is plagued by the illegal transportation of rice across the country’s land boundaries. In order for the food security initiatives and the significant investments made by the government and the private sector in the rice industry to thrive, the future administration will need to develop a new strategy for tackling smugglers and financial saboteurs. He advocated restructuring Nigeria’s current border surveillance system to allow Customs and other agencies stationed there to conduct the round-the-clock observation.
Border security and adequate policies are necessary for sustainability.
Technology should be employed if they are not already being used for border security; contemporary monitoring devices should be used immediately. Some examples of this technology include long-range surveillance drones, night vision scopes, and video monitors. In addition, as a method of providing officers with additional motivation, the working terms, welfare packages, and benefits offered by the Nigeria Customs Service and other government agencies stationed at the borders should be subjected to an upward review.
Similarly, he advocated for more practical and industry-friendly seed policies, stressing the importance of funding for reverse integration as well as the need for reliable research regarding the production of foundation seeds. There is going to be a requirement for a subsidy program that will enable processors to participate in paddy production by means of large-scale farming, the out-grower program, and contract farming. He also said urgent action is needed to push state governments to remove obstacles to acquiring land for paddy rice production on a wide scale.
Adequate irrigation and power system are essential.
Regarding the nation’s infrastructure, he suggested that the new government take immediate measures to repair and expand the country’s irrigation systems so that farmers can plant crops in successive seasons. They also want the national and state governments, and the agriculture and rural development ministries, to rethink how they handle the dams within their control. Certainly, it will benefit the country’s Agriculture if they can begin separating several dams and water bodies throughout the country to help supply the water necessary for farmers for irrigation and to minimize flooding.
Moreover, the government will have to intervene immediately in power generation and delivery to companies in order to relieve the burden of enormous capital investments in diesel power generation. This is necessary in order for finished products to be able to compete effectively in the market. To enable farmers to get their harvested products to market, the government will give serious consideration to the possibility of creating a good road system, particularly in rural towns where the majority of farmers reside.
Grain risk fund and other equipment will enhance small farming.
Lastly, Ekwelem pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture will need to create a sustainable mechanized service program to provide Tractors and Planters, Threshers and Dryers, as well as strategic farm-silo/warehouses to smallholder farmers who produce the majority of the country’s crops and suffer the most from post-harvest as well as other damages. They suggest that the government build a flagship platform for agriculture that can provide single-interest rate loans to farmers everywhere. For this purpose, it could be helpful to establish a “grain risk fund” to meet the needs of the grain business in times of crisis.
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RIPAN blames high rice prices on insecurity. – Urgent intervention is needed to deliver the rice sector of its impediments. – Express your point of view.
Lack of security affects the ability of farmers to produce, harvest, and transport rice, leading to a low supply that translates to high prices for consumers. Governments and farmers, need to work together to address these challenge and create a sustainable and profitable rice sector that can provide food security and economic growth.
Rice been one of the stable food in the country and average person will always eat rice at list four days in a week.The security problem has really cause many farmers to run away from their farm and this has made the production of rice to reduce.
Urgent intervention is needed to deliver the rice sector of its impediments. Rice is among the important food that Nigerians can not do without. Government please will need solution to this challenges facing the country at this period
When there is not security to protect our farmer who produce rice for us why won’t rice price go high they need protection so they can work well to produce rice for the country there life come first many people are unable to farm in other to produce food for us
It would be helpful if our immigration is a top priority for the next government of Nigeria and If they do this, they will be able to keep a closer eye on the country’s borders, which would result in less illegal goods being brought into the country.
The expansion of our domestically produced rice is being hampered by the unlawful trafficking of rice throughout the nation’s geographic borders in Nigeria.
Insecurity is one of the problem we are facing in this country. As the RIPAN association has said, it has affected rice production. If there is a stabilized security in place, there will be enough rice and the prices will not be exorbitant.
Rice is what we consume the most and if will be very great if the government can find means to reduce the price for us, and many households that can afford mainly rice will be very grateful
The Federal Government is to be blamed for the high rice prices and not the insecurity itself. The FG has failed in her duties to provide the necessary facilities, security along our borders and within the country. The FG is the cause of the rise in rice price due to their unfavourable policies. However, the incoming government should work on the lapses created by this present administration to allow for bouyant economy.
The the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) should rather blame the current administration directly for the high rice prices due to their failure arrest the situation of insecurity, smuggling, inflation and bad policy decisions. I hope the next administration will not work in their foot steps.
Rice is being illegally transported across Nigeria’s borders, which is slowing the growth of our domestic rice production. More strict rules needs to be enforced to regulate the market.