The Policy Adviser of the John Kufuor Foundation, Hon. Abraham Dwuma, on Tuesday expressed the belief that rice importation into the country would end by 2020.
Dwuma told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin that the Africa Rice Advocacy Platform under the JKF had created a rice value chain to achieve this.
He said the purpose of the platform was for Africa to achieve zero importation of rice.
”Two years from now, Nigeria should have no business importing rice because I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and I know the potentials.
”Kebbi State alone can produce all the rice Nigeria needs; talk more of Sokoto and even Kwara.
“‘For, example, in Akwa Ibom, they have one of the best lands for rice production.
”When we came to Nigeria, farmers were doing 1.5 tonnes per hectare, now they are doing six tonnes per hectare two times in a year.
”We believe that with this platform, we will get there,” Dwuma said.
