The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh has revealed that the Federal Government imports $6m worth of rice daily.
Ogbeh said this while speaking to selected farmers in Ebonyi state.
He also revealed that the funds to sustain the importation of rice is no longer available.
Ogbeh added that the Federal Government has also decided to give priority to rice production.
He also said the Buhari administration will support farmers to engage in all year farming.
Ogbeh said “The Federal Government would support you through the provision of inputs, access to financing among other interventions, to achieve improved yields from your crops.
“You will also be supported to embark on all-year farming through the provision of irrigation facilities that would enhance crop yield.”
The minister had earlier revealed that consuming rice in large quantity on a regular basis was a bit of a health risk, adding that substituting it with potato would be welcomed development.
He said that the consumption of rice in the country was rising and that a lot of people were not aware that the rice had some degree of arsenic.
Audu Ogbeh recently warned Nigerians against using grinding machine to grind vegetables.
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