Jonathan assures self sufficiency in rice production

Jonathan assures self sufficiency in rice production

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the attainment of self-sufficiency in rice production by Nigeria is a top priority of his administration.

Jonathan said this at a meeting with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo Nwaze, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

National Transformational Agenda

Jonathan noted that his Administration had given agricultural development the highest possible priority in its National Transformation Agenda because of its vital importance.

He made it known that domestic self-sufficiency in rice production was one of the major assignments he had given to the new Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.

“Before we leave office in 2015, we must stop the importation of rice to Nigeria. There is no reason why Nigeria should be importing rice. We have all that is needed to grow enough for domestic consumption and have a surplus for export to other countries,” he said.

Ensuring food security and employment opportunity

He said that the Federal Government would welcome increased support and assistance from IFAD for the successful implementation of its plans to fully revitalise the potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“This government is fully committed to agricultural development. It is key for us and we are not going to play politics with it,” he said.

“We know that besides ensuring food security for our people, it can also help to generate increased employment opportunities for our youths,” he added.

The president reiterated his commitment to make agriculture in Nigeria an attractive business for investors and the youth. He said his administration was not only thinking of increasing food production for domestic consumption.

Continued partnership

The president told Nwanze that the country was proud of the good work he was doing at the international agency and would continue to support his efforts on the global stage.

Earlier, Nwanze, a Nigerian who has headed IFAD since 2009, said that the agency has been cooperating with the Nigerian government since 1985.

He said that IFAD was currently engaged in developing value chain for rice and cassava in Nigeria.

He commended the president for the priority given to agriculture through the Transformation Agenda and pledged IFAD’s continued partnership with the government.

NAN/Shakira/Williams