The
Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) on Tuesday said it’s set to begin
exportation of rice by 2017, based on its Anchor Borrowers Programme
for the promotion of Agriculture
According to the CBN, the Anchor
Borrowers Programme of the CBN and the Presidential Committee on Rice
Production, launched in July had jointly set the target.
The Acting Director of Corporate
Communications of the apex bank, Mr Isaac Okorafor, said this in Yenagoa
at a sensitisation workshop for farmers.
The theme of the workshop is entitled: “Promoting Stability and Economic Development’’.
According to him, farmers in Kebbi,
Jigawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Cross River states, among others, have
already keyed into the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation.
He said the country would achieve
self-sustenance in rice production if the momentum was sustained, adding
that the country should commence exportation of locally produced rice
by 2017.
Okorafor said Kebbi State had already
harvested one million tonnes of rice, adding that Ebonyi’s harvest had
outstripped the earmarked production for the year.
“The development is encouraging and by
the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is
between six and seven million tonnes but have a surplus to export.
“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign
rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and
India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier.
“We should eat Nigerian rice provided
for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in
Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for
Christmas,’’ he said.
He further said: “What we have done with
this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for
the unemployed youths.
“Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign.
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