The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council on Wednesday said that the country was making remarkable progress in the area of rice production having recorded 4.9 million tons in 2019 to beat other African countries.

He said with the country’s latest production records which surpassed other African countries, Nigeria’s annual rice import would be reduced from 4.5 million metric tons to 800,000 metrics.

Awolowo stated this on Wednesday while addressing Plateau farmers at a workshop on Jos, the state capital.

Awolowo said ” We gathered that Nigeria attained about 4.9 million tons in rice production in 2019 which makes it the largest producer in Africa surpassing Egypt which used to produce 4.3 million tons annually.

“With Nigeria’s latest production records, annual import would be drastically reduced from 4.5 million metric tons to 800,000 metric tons. For us at NEPC, it is our fervent belief that together, we can succeed not only in the diversification of the economic base by moving the country from a mono-product foreign exchange earner to a multiproduct foreign exchange earner through rice products from states”

The Executive Director who was represented by the Director, National Export Office, Abuja, Mrs Gertrude Ukoanam further noted that Nigeria was among the world top 16 rice producers in the world with production valued at N684 bn.

He told Plateau farmers that the aim of the workshop was to further stakeholders capacity to produce high-quality rice that will attract premium prices in the international market with a view to boosting their export.

He added:

“The main purpose of the initiative is to have an economy that does not depend on a single drop of oil revenue to survive. It is our belief that rice, by its production and export potentials belong to the categories of quick win products that should be targeted for intensive development and promotion.”

The North Central Regional Coordinator of NEPC, Mr Oluwale Monehin said that the challenges facing farmers including quality seed, storage, Agro machinery and packaging among others, must be addressed by professionals to pave the way for sustainable and profitable export trade activities on the product.

He said this could be achieved through collaborative efforts of stakeholders.

He called on Plateau farmers and other stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in its efforts to ensure that more states join the league of rice producers in boosting the country’s economy like other states including Kebbi, Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Ogun and Katsina which he identified as the leading drivers of rice production in Nigeria.