Imagine this: Just two Nigerian states can satisfy West Africa's rice needs

The Competitive African Rice Initiative, CARI says that Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough rice for consumption in the West African sub-region

The Policy Advisor of CAPRI, Mr Abraham Odoom made the revelation on Thursday during the inauguration of the Nigerian Rice Policy Advocacy Platform in Kano, Kano State

He said that empirical evidence indicate that two of the rice producing states in Nigeria can produce enough of the commodity to feed the West African sub-region.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant arable land and water for massive production of rice.

“The issue of unemployment can be effectively tackled if the much needed leverage is secured by indigenous farmers willing to prove their worth on rice production,” he said.

Earlier on,  Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Nasir Gawuna who was represented by his Permanent Secretary,
Hajiya Binta Rabiu said that the state government would continue to pay special attention to agriculture in order to boost food production.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the commissioner said that the state government  recently gave Rice Farmers Association in the state N1 billion soft loan to boost rice production.

NAN