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Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

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NIGERIA is <strong>the</strong> <strong>most</strong> populous country in Africa, with a population in 1999 of 108.9 million.<br />

Much of <strong>the</strong> land, 924,000 km 2 in tot<strong>al</strong>, is arable because of <strong>the</strong> presence of extensive river<br />

systems. The nor<strong>the</strong>rn areas consist of dry plateaus and grasslands. There are <strong>al</strong>so centr<strong>al</strong><br />

grasslands. The sou<strong>the</strong>rn lowlands, where <strong>most</strong> of <strong>the</strong> population lives, contain tropic<strong>al</strong> <strong>for</strong>ests<br />

and are <strong>the</strong> site of <strong>most</strong> agriculture. Agriculture occupies 54% of <strong>the</strong> work<strong>for</strong>ce and<br />

constitutes 33% of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />

Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 800<br />

• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 221 km 3<br />

• Incoming water flow: 59 km 3<br />

• Main food consumed: mill<strong>et</strong> and sorghum,<br />

roots and tubers, oil and fat, rice, maize<br />

• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 23.3 kg milled rice<br />

per person per year<br />

Production constraints<br />

The following are <strong>the</strong> major constraints to<br />

sustainable rice production in Nigeria:<br />

• Shifting cultivation in upland areas<br />

• Drought in upland areas and drought and<br />

flash flood in rainfed lowland (or inland<br />

swamp) and tid<strong>al</strong> w<strong>et</strong>land (or mangrove)<br />

areas because of irregular wea<strong>the</strong>r<br />

• Heat-induced sterility at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> offseason<br />

in irrigated areas in nor<strong>the</strong>rn parts<br />

• Cold-induced sterility in December<br />

• Shortage of water in <strong>the</strong> dry season<br />

• Poor maintenance of irrigation facilities<br />

• Inadequate and irregular input supplies:<br />

seeds, fertilizer, and credit<br />

• Lack of sm<strong>al</strong>l farm equipment, especi<strong>al</strong>ly<br />

<strong>for</strong> postharvest operations<br />

• Poor maintenance of developed swamps<br />

• Poor drainage, iron toxicity in undeveloped<br />

swamps<br />

• Lack of effective farmers’ organizations and<br />

cooperatives<br />

• Lack of well-defined rice policy<br />

• Poor road n<strong>et</strong>works and mark<strong>et</strong>ing systems<br />

• Weak research and extension support<br />

Production season<br />

Planting Harvesting<br />

Main season, south Apr-May Aug-Oct<br />

Main season, north Jun-Jul Nov-Dec<br />

Off-season, south Nov-Dec Mar-Apr<br />

Off-season, north Jan-Feb May-Jun<br />

204 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac

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