01122019 - 13 states struggle for 7.5 metric tonnes of rice

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PAGE 10— SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2019 Each LGA in Ebonyi produces 200 metric tonnes — Ogodo, Chairman, Abakaliki Rice Mill •Our rice is finest, cheapest, he says By Peter Okutu Chairman of Abakaliki Rice Mill, Ogodo Samuel, speaks on the impact of border closure on local rice production and the uniqueness of Abakaliki rice. What impact does the closure of borders have on rice production and distribution? I want to commend the President for his effort towards repositioning the agricultural sector. This time, it appears that the present administration is getting it right. With the closure of the borders, the wrong impression about our rice has changed. It has increased the consumption of local rice, I’m afraid govt may succumb to pressure — Oluga, Agrecourse head By Gabriel Ewepu Chief Executive Officer of Agrecourse Integrated Service Limited, Ayoola Oluga, in this conversation, describes the closure of Nigeria’s borders as generous to rice farmers. What is the impact of border closure on local rice production? The border closure has significantly boosted the local production of rice. Practically, every rice mill in the country has been very busy since the border closure. This decision has been very generous to local producers as they have made more than they usually would make. How are you people coming with the increased economic activities and boosted the production of rice in the state. The policy has helped. How has the present administration in Ebonyi supported rice production? I commend Governor David Umahi for the initiative he has brought into the agricultural sector and the Abakaliki Rice Mill. We have many cluster engines in Ebonyi. More than 50 years of the existence of Abakaliki Rice Mill, nobody apart from the governor deemed it necessary to fence the Mill for the purposes of security and administrative convenience. A plan is on the ground for the overall renovation and revamping of the Abakaliki upsurge in demand for locally produced rice? At Agrecourse, we do not currently have a rice mill but we have rice farms. We are currently harvesting our rice farms and we hope to process them through our rice mill partners, so as to benefit from the sudden rise in demand for local rice. Apart from the Anchor Borrowers Programme, has the federal government offered any kind of support to you people since the borders were closed? The only support rendered by the government has been the border closure itself and it has been really helpful for local producers like us. We hope the government will not bow to unnecessary pressure to open the borders. •Ogodo Samuel rice mill for better productivity. We have the finest and cheapest rice in the whole country. Our rice is 100 times cheaper. What makes Abakaliki rice distinct and what is the price range? It is one of the best and it is clean. It is not the type of rice that after becomes watery after cooking. The acidic nature of our land does not permit such. Our 25 kilogram, kg, is sold between N5,800 and N5,600, while the 50kg is between N12,000 and N13,000. The price is determined by the quality or specie of rice. The texture of our land determines the type of rice to grow and harvest in Ebonyi. •Ayoola Oluga How many million metric tonnes do you produce annually and what is the volume produced since the increase in demand? The amount we produce varies from season to season. If you recall, the 2019 wet season had commenced way before the border closure was announced. Due to flooding, we lost some of the rice we How qualitative is Abakaliki rice and is there enough to serve Nigerians? I am not boasting. If we mill rice at the Abakaliki Rice Mill from morning to night the whole state will be flooded with rice. We are rice and rice is Ebonyi. Our rice has been subjected to clinical test and it remains one of the best in the world. We want the federal government to assist us in the area of irrigation so that we can cultivate rice three times yearly. If that is done, rice would be available everywhere in the state. We have 13 Local Government Areas, LGA, in Ebonyi State and about 200 metric tonnes of rice are cultivated in each LGA. Abakaliki rice is one of the best in the world. We have enough to feed the world. The state has keyed into the Anchor Borrowers Programme introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and it has really paid off. How are you coping with the increase in demand? Since I became the Chairman of Abakaliki Rice Mill, we have been getting support from the state governor. We met a situation where customers were complaining about weighing and balancing problems. We dealt with it squarely. That is the issue of inaccurate measurement. We sought the support of organisations like IFAD, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and Ebonyi State House of Assembly to ensure better service delivery. We are now using scale instead of the old bushel. The issue of cheating by some miscreants within the mill has been dealt with by our administration. Currently, we have customers from Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ogun and several other states across the country. People from the six geopolitical zones of the country buy Abakaliki Rice. Sometimes, customers come from outside the shores of Nigeria. produced. However, we have been buying from some of our partner farmers for processing. We are still harvesting some of our farms. It is difficult to give a figure now. What volume does Nigeria need to produce to meet local consumption? The 2018 estimate for the amount required was eight million metric tonnes but we only produced 4.5 million metric tonnes. This means in 2018, we had a shortfall of 3.5 million metric tonnes. If we are able to produce that shortfall, I am sure it would be a very good development. What are your fears and needs? My fear is that the government would likely bow to pressure and open the borders soon. What everyone needs is good and consistent government policies that would aid local production/manufacturing and reduce poverty among Nigerians By Gabriel Ewepu Head of Media, Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, NFGS, Gabriel Emameh, in this interview, urges the Federal Government not to succumb to pressure and open the borders. He says the closure has mounted pressure on local rice farmers. Can we know the kind of impact the closure of the nation’s borders has on local rice production? The closure of the borders has not only mounted pressure on rice farmers in the country to produce more for local consumption and even export as demands increase, but it has also provided the market for them to sell their products. The demand is high and guess what? They smile to the banks and there is confidence to grow more and improve in the quality of Nigeria rice. Government is already creating an enabling environment for them and that in turn, will make agriculture much more attractive for prospective farmers. Although Nigerians might be feeling the heat now, it is going to be a win-win situation for all as we match on. How are you people coming with the upsurge in demand for locally Rice farmers’re now under pressure —Emameh, NGFS Spokesman •Says Nigeria needs 7m tonnes for local consumption •Gabriel Emameh produced rice? You may observe in your last visit that we are already expanding our production and milling capacity by every means possible to meet demand, particularly as the festive period draws closer. In NFGCS for instance, we have already upgraded to between 150- 210 tonnes daily with graders, whiteners and colour sorters to give it the quality Nigerians would appreciate. By February we would be looking at 1000 tonnes daily. Apart from the Anchor Borrowers Programme, has the federal government offered any kind of support to you people since the borders were closed? We have not gotten any support from any bank apart from Kiakia, a fintech lender. The federal government has been helpful through its subsidised farm implement, agrochemical, and fertilizers. That to some extent has reduced the burden on us and we hope they extend it to the distribution of tractors and other heavy-duty equipment for farmers like us. With regards to this, government has done wonderfully well The government is making plans to partner with us in some technical areas to expand what we have and replicate the same in local governments across the country. Till today, we are still getting subsidised farm implements from government. But one thing is very crucial here, government must be up and doing to provide improved seedlings to boost production and harvest capacity What volume does Nigeria need to produce to meet local consumption? We need 6-7 million metric tonnes annually. Like I said earlier, there must be a deliberate policy put in place to prioritise Agriculture. China and other advanced countries in the world today have their success story deeply rooted in agriculture which eventually led to the industrial revolution in those parts of the world. I mean our land is the only technology we have for now. What are your fears and needs? There would be no need to fret when the right thing is done. Government should invest massively in agriculture to create job opportunities and our stomach is secured. I mean our country and our stomachs would be secured.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 11 Nigeria has saved $1.8b from ban on rice importation — Okorafor, CBN Spokesperson By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief Director, Corporate Communications of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Isaac Okoroafor, in this interview, speaks on the gains being recorded following the ban on importation of rice into Nigeria. He also explains how the CBN is assisting local rice farmers through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, ABP. Rice production has taken the centre stage in the agricultural sector. What role has the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme played in this development? The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) has been a huge success as can be attested to by the level of acceptance and participation by various stakeholders along the value chains of all the crops the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is intervening in. As for rice, the story can be likened to a revolution of some sort. Beginning with the launch of the programme in Kebbi State by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, the rice industry in Nigeria has witnessed a great revamp. What we did with the ABP was to form strategic partnerships with agricultural This significant reduction in imports of rice from Thailand represents a saving of over US$1.8 billion to Nigeria from that time to now commodity associations such as the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), which has yielded great results. How has the ABP impacted the rice value-chain in the country? The ABP has greatly impacted the rice value chain in Nigeria. From its inception in 2015 to the end of October 2019, a cumulative sum of N247.7 billion had been disbursed through different Private Finance Initiatives, PFIs, to finance about 1,388,201 farmers, working with over 200 anchor companies. Also, over two million and eight million direct and indirect jobs, respectively, have been created under the ABP. Right from the input suppliers, rice farmers, extension workers, processors and marketers alike, we have addressed the value chain to ensure value addition and ultimately job and wealth creation. There are calls for the nation’s borders to be opened to rice importation. Those behind the calls claimed that local production is too low to meet rice demand. Do you see this as a justification for rice importation, at least for now, pending when local production can meet demand? Although the security of borders is not within the CBN remit, we are glad •Okorafor about the decision of the Federal Government to do that as it will have a great impact on the interventions the bank is making in the value chains of different crops. Those vested interests seeking an immediate reopening of the country’s borders are not patriotic Nigerians and do not wish to see the country develop and its army of unemployed citizens gainfully employed. When those borders were open, unpatriotic elements worked with foreign interests to take advantage of the situation. They imported all sorts of items that can be produced here locally and our local manufacturers bled. In the specific case of rice, with open borders, the rice millers across the country had their storage houses full of bags of rice that they were unable to sell due to the unfettered access importers had particularly through the Northern and Western borders of our country. Fast forward to the border closure. All those unsold bags of rice that were in the warehouses of the millers have all been bought with new orders already placed. Some may argue that the border closure has led to an increase in the price of locally produced rice but I tell you that increase is only temporary. Very soon, those prices will moderate and you will see a sharp drop in the prices of locally produced rice. The closure of the borders is a win-win situation for Nigeria. What difference has the local rice production made in terms of conserving foreign exchange from rice importation since the CBN ABP intervention, in the past three years? It has made a humungous difference. Since we commenced the implementation of the policy, there has been a sharp drop in imports of rice from several countries. As we have shown before now, available data from Thailand’s Rice Exporters Association indicate that in 2012, about 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice were exported to Nigeria. However, in 2016, which was the first full year of implementation of our policy, rice exports to Nigeria fell to only 784 metric tonnes. This significant reduction in imports of rice from Thailand represents a saving of over US$1.8 billion to Nigeria from that time to now. This fall in rice importation has served as a boost for local rice production in Nigeria. These are clearly verifiable successes of government’s attempts to create jobs locally, improve the wealth of our rural population, improve industrial capacities and ultimately attain economic growth in Nigeria. Specifically, in the past three years, we have pursued a demand management approach to conserve our reserves and support domestic production of certain goods in Nigeria. In this regard, we analysed our import bill, and encouraged manufacturers to consider local options in sourcing their raw materials, by restricting access to foreign exchange on 43 items. How would you rate the loan repayment by beneficiaries under the ABP? The response of farmers in terms of repayment of the loan is quite encouraging. Suffice to state that the facilities are staggered according to farming seasons. While some of the facilities are maturing, others might just be in the early stages of utilization by beneficiaries. We have also devised a more sustainable and enduring means of disbursement to ensure efficiency both in utilization and repayment. We are collaborating with produce associations like RIFAN. They would ensure that genuine farmers not only access these loan facilities but also ensure monitoring and prompt payment as and when due. Excitement in Kano as Glo delivers prize to winner’s home FAGGE area in the an cient city of Kano was enveloped in celebration last Friday when Globacom delivered a brand new tricycle to one of its subscribers in her home. The day started just like any other day for the residents of the community. The entire area was quiet and there was no inkling that anything spectacular was going to happen. However, at 10:30 am, the area took on a completely new look when a large entourage of traditional chiefs of Fagge, Kannywood superstar, Sani Danja, and others appeared on the horizon. In the entourage were the representative of the Galadima of Fagge, Alhaji Hassan Ahmed, the Mai Ungwa of Fagge, Alhaji Tijani Dan Wawu, Globacom’s Head of Sales, North West, Niyi Anifowose and Regional Manager, North West, Yakubu Baba. In the procession was a Globranded tricycle destined for House 146, Fagge-A. The house is located in the middle of the sleepy street. Curious residents, trooped out to behold the spectacle unfolding before them. Many of them, especially the children and the youths, came out of their homes and joined the train. By the time the entourage reached House 146, where Ummukhairi Badamasi, a 29- year-old full-time housewife lives with her husband, the entourage had swelled considerably. From left: Niyi Anifowoshe, Globacom’s Head of Sales North West, representative of the Galadima of Fagge, Alhaji Hassan Ahmed; winner of tricycle in the on-going Recharge and Win Big promo by Globacom, Madam Ummukhairi Badamasi, Mai Unguwa of Fagge, Alhaji Tijani Dan Wawu, Kannywood star, Sani Danja, and Globacom’s Regional Manager North West 1, Yakubu Baba, after delivery of the star prize to the tricycle winner at her home in Fagge, Kano. The tricycle finally arrived the front of the destined address and the lucky Badamasi and her entire family members and neighbours rushed out in excitement to receive the august visitors. Globacom’s Regional Manager, North West, Yakubu Baba, wasted no time in announcing why the team was there. Assisted by all the dignitaries, he announced that the brand new tricycle was the prize Ummukhairi won by recharging her line during the ongoing sales promotion by Globacom, tagged Recharge and Win Big, popularly called My Own Don Beta. Baba handed over the key to the tricycle to Badamasi as the crowd cheered. The lucky winner told the crowd she never imagined she could win a tricycle. She said she was aware of the promo and was recharging her phone, hoping she would win. Badamasi said even when she was called by someone from Globacom, she was still thinking it was either a dream or a prank. “Now, all doubt is gone! I am a proud owner of a tricycle. Thank you, Globacom,” the lucky winner enthused. The subscriber said she is a housewife, adding that the prize she had won now would enable her to go into business. She said she would use the keke for transportation business. Other winners received their prizes from Globacom. Kamilu Muhammad Adam also got a tricycle. Yinusa Abubakar, a policeman, and Sadiq Abdulkadir collected a grinding mill. A lawyer, Ibrahim Idris, and Salisu Sheu got an industrial sewing machine each. The previous Monday, a prize-presentation exercise was held at the Kantin Kwari Market in Kano. It was the fifth prize presentation exercise in the ongoing promotion. Other prize presentations had been held in Lagos (Ojuelegba), Abuja (Wuse Market), Port Harcourt (Mile 1 Market) and Ibadan (Bodija Market). In Kano, a total of 130 prizes, including tricycles (popularly known as keke), grinding mills, generators, and industrial sewing machines, were won by subscribers from Kano and its neighbouring states. Why Nigerians must start 2020 with God – Prophet Aderanti By Demola Akinyemi THE General Over seer of Resurrection Commission Evangelistic Ministry [RCEM], Evangelist/Prophet Adeolu Aderanti, has urged Nigerians to start 2020 with God if they want peace and progress to return to the country. Aderanti said it is because there is no Jesus Christ in many homes that there is hardship and crisis in Nigeria, saying no amount of prayers could solve problems unless everyone returns to God through Jesus Christ. The renowned prophet, who had his roots in Baptist where he rose through the ranks before he received God’s call to start his own ministry in 2003, spoke with Sunday Vanguard at the headquarters of the church arm of his ministry, Resurrection Power Church International, located at Ajegunle, Otte, boundary area of Kwara and Ogbomosho in Oyo State. According to him, he is gifted in “rural evangelism through which many people including kings and non- Christians have given their lives to Jesus”. Aderanti said arrangements had been concluded for three days crusade of his ministry tagged ‘He That Hath The Key of David’ starting from this Friday, December 6-Sunday 8, at the church headquarters, Resurrection Land in Otte with his spiritual father, Prophet Peter Owa, urging people to come irrespective of their religions for miraculous solution to their problems. He said free transportation had been provided for people who wish to attend the crusade from Ilorin and Ogbomosho. The cleric explained that former Nigerian leaders did their best to turn the country around, saying President Muhammadu Buhari is equally doing his own but insisted that unless the leaders and followers return to God in 2020, there won’t be peace and progress in the nation. “According to Philippians 4.13, ‘I can do all things through Christ’. The moment we run away from Jesus Christ, we are running away from solution. Without Christ, we are deceiving ourselves. With Jesus Christ alone we can get all we want”, Aderanti said.
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Page 37 and 38: By Sam Eyoboka HE Christian Social
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01122019 - 13 states struggle for 7.5 metric tonnes of rice

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