Lagos: Some local farmers have decried the increased importation of foreign rice produce, a situation they claim is crippling Nigeria’s local rice production. The farmers disclosed this in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, local rice production has declined since the Federal Government’s import duties waiver on the importation of rice and other essential commodities in 2024. The acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and rice farmer, Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, said the local farmers had been suffering since the increase in rice importation. Agbayewa highlighted that the renewed import waiver led to a surge in rice shipments, adversely affecting local cultivation and putting many farmers out of business. He also pointed out the challenges posed by climate change and the impact of the ongoing Iran-Israel-US war on fertilizer prices, which have increased production costs significantly.
Mr. Raphael Hunsa, Lagos State Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, urged the government to intervene and support local rice production amidst the pressures facing the sector. Hunsa emphasized the difficulties faced by local farmers, including the inability to afford necessary inputs like fertilizers and the struggle to break even without an enabling environment. He called for government assistance to ensure local farmers can compete with importers and sustain their businesses.
A rice trader in the Agege area, Mrs. Tolu Ajiboye, confirmed the drop in rice prices due to the market being flooded with imported rice. She noted that the abundance of imported rice has led to a significant price reduction, making it difficult for local rice brands to compete. Ajiboye also mentioned that some local producers are resorting to rebagging their rice in foreign bags to make sales, highlighting the unpredictability of the sector and the current preference for imported rice due to its affordability.