Alhaji Lai Mohammed has promised Nigerians that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is doing everything possible to ensure a drop in the price of rice.
”We are happy to tell Nigerians of a giant stride made by the administration in the agriculture sector, specifically rice production: Nigeria is inching closer to achieving self-sufficiency in rice, due to the success recorded by the administration in the local production of rice,” he said.
”A few years ago, this (Thai investors establishing rice mills in Nigeria) would not have been possible since Nigeria was not considered a top rice producing country. Today, Nigeria is one of the largest producers of rice,” he said.
The minister said the increase in rice production across the country did not happen by mistake, “But was largely due to the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari to support farmers through inputs distribution and loans to boost rice production, and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, among others.
He also said the increased production was bound to force down the price of locally-produced rice and provide succour to Nigerians.
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