Now is the best time to be a rice farmer

A better fraction of employees serving tirelessly at various companies are often set aback by fear of the unknown, lacking the courage to be an entrepreneur or out rightly clue-less on what to do.  Some others are limited by paucity of funds and no amount of motivational speech would make them fire their employers as it is always said.

Employees asides, there are also business owners that are presently struggling with getting things right and raking in profit as expected. To everyone on this 'ship',  now is actually the best time to be a rice farmer.

 It is no longer news that the land borders in Nigeria has been shut for a few months. This is to curb smuggling of commodities into the country, items which often find its way here albeit illegally. And even though there are lots of banned commodities, the masses seem to feel the impact of foreign rice importation the more. Those at the lower economic cadre being worse hit going by the hike in the price which might be out of their reach for now. Rice is undoubtedly the staple food for all and inadvertently the most consumed. And in Nigeria, there is absolutely no party without the regular jollof and fried rice.

Without having to dwell much on the reason for the border closure we seriously need to remain bothered as to why Nigeria, a country of about 200 million people could not afford to grow her rice. This is despite the huge consumption by her people while also reflecting on gearing our sensitivity to the business aspect of it.

The level of rice consumption of the Nigerian populace can be attested to, with the huge importation of the grain from neighboring countries like Benin Republic and Cameroun. Nigeria seems to be their final ‘dumping ground’ for rice that they also bring forth into their country from overseas. By so doing, Nigeria loses heavily on duties hence a draining economy, while that of the aforementioned Countries improves in disguise.

And the fact that ECOWAS is being called upon to speak with Nigeria to open up her borders, then Vietnam offering bilateral trade agreement on how to import rice into Nigeria is further attesting to the level of strength of our rice purchase as a Nation. Why then did we not grow our own rice despite the screaming level of poverty and unemployment?

Data has it that, Nigeria consumes about 6.9 million tons of rice annually; Yet Kano, which seems the largest producer of rice produces only about 1.6million metric tons while Niger state, about 550,000 metric tons. Is this not reiterating the fact that here is the right time to be a rice farmer?

China is no doubt one of the economic backbones of the world. An enviable nation despite her huge population of about 1.386 billion people (2017 figures) not only feeds her own, but actually the world’s largest producer of rice. And it might shock you to know that they once closed their borders for forty years and banned all importations for local economy to grow. China actually produces around 193 million metric tons (FAO 2008) of rice, which accounts for as much as 35% of total world rice production.

With other top rice producing countries in the world being India, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand etc, it is high time Nigerians defy all odds to measure up to the huge consumption of rice among her citizens with onward plantation as well, so that we can begin to make exploits with exportation in the global market too.

A quick insight into the rice price journey by the way;  A bag of rice for many years stood at 6,500 Naira to 9,000 Naira, but went up to 13,500 Naira- 16,000 Naira a few years ago when the country experienced recession. Nigerians cried foul over this price development until they subsequently got used to it. Like we always do, the strong people that we are. And now that all land borders are closed, a bag of local rice goes for 19,000 Naira, while the foreign ones are sold between 25,000 Naira and 35,000 Naira. Sigh!

Our local rice never gained much momentum until this time, paving way for the huge purchase of its foreign breeds for a lot of reasons. From being tasteless and spicing up with some onions and a few spoons of groundnut oil doing no magic at all, to the ones to be scoop like it were some liquid pap after it must have been mashed right after cooking. Then there is the rice grains competing with stones inside the pot etc. I remain one of the culprits that do not eat local rice so I am well informed. And having left with no choice now, I am advocating for more hands to grow rice and I remain quite optimistic that, practice would make perfection to better brands cum eatable grains for Nigerians.

By so doing however, Nigeria would have saved millions spent on importing food. And it might interest anyone to discover that, this great nation actually spends around 22 billion dollars (7.92trillion Naira) each year on food imports. Food items like fish, sugar, wheat and rice accounting for about 1.65 billion dollars (0.59trillions) out of the lot. 

Attention should be given to the major rice producing states already. From Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Benue, Taraba and Bornu, Enugu to Cross-River. I implore other regions too, the south western states especially to massively embrace this imminent goldmine, rice plantation.

Great news to Nigeria feeding Nigerians is coming from the Dangote group, (as always). Punch newspaper report has it that the group is pledging that her 150,000 hectares rice farmlands in Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara states as well as 10 rice mills it was establishing in different parts of the states would deliver 1 million tons of rice annually. So also Coscharis group in Anambra (owner of coscharis rice) recently launched a $35 million dollar rice processing mill which is expected to have a milling capacity of 40,000 tones capacity per annum.

With all of these in place, it is still a far cry from the 6.9 million tones of rice consumed by Nigerians annually, an indication that the more hands involved, the merrier it would be.

However, governments at various levels should ensure these two things are put in place;

Ø  The local brands needs to be encouraged with financial aid. Specifically, rice loans for both new and existing farmers would not be a bad idea after all. This becomes pertinent going by the incapacitated individuals either presently farming or wanting to venture into farming.

Ø  Having rice training institutes at this critical time for willing Nigerians with no farming idea is now pertinent. A lot needs to be learned actually. Not just rice planting, but suitable soil types, etc . Education makes a farmer, whose rice brands cook earliest to avail valid instructions in sacks as to the cooking guidelines. An improperly de-husked rice shaft at the mills is bound to have more particles and stones and it takes an enlightened rice farmer to understand this.

Statistically however, Nigeria is the highest importer of rice globally. And going by the fact that rice gets to maturity in less than six months to cash in on the profit, the best time to be a rice farmer is no other time but now. #deliberate attempt at emphasizing.

         Shall we for once look away from being overly dependent on crude oil and diversify the economy at least for now through rice?