… produces 90% of rice it consumes – Ogbeh

Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday expressed satisfaction that Nigeria is now producing 90 per cent of the rice it consumed locally.

Ogbeh disclosed this at the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning meeting held at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Kaduna State.

Ogbeh, who was represented Dr Karima Babangida, the Director, Extension Services of the ministry, said that the support of the present administration had triggered a visible shift “to eating what we grow rather than eating imported food.’’

“One very good example that we see today is the locally home grown Nigerian rice, hitherto, Nigeria has been a major and largest importer of rice from Thailand and this implies largest importer in the world.

“But today, we have been able to achieve a paradigm shift in the right direction and we are now producing 90 per cent of the rice we eat in the country, I think we should appreciate our farmers here,’’ he said.

SOURCE:DAILY TRUST

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