Nigeria may experience rice shortage next year – FG
The heavy flood in about 14 states may lead to shortage of rice across the country next year, the Federal Government has warned .
It warned that if adequate measures were not taken to replant the rice affected by severe flood in some states , Nigeria might experience shortage of the staple by 2019.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Chief Audu Ogbeh , stated these at the inauguration of the National Agricultural Seed Council Molecular Facility and the 2018 Seed Fair and Farmers’ Field Day in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him , the flood affected some major rice-producing states , and this might be risky in terms of rice availability in the country if not addressed.
Ogbeh outlined some of the affected states to include Kebbi , Jigawa , Anambra and Kogi .
He said , “ We have to find a way to reach out to farmers who have lost their crops , because in places like Jigawa , Kebbi, Anambra and Kogi , many farmers lost everything they planted.
“ New varieties of rice are being produced at the National Agricultural Seed Council , the Faro 66 and 67, which are flood- tolerant; we hope to get them into the field in large quantities for farmers to plant in the near future .
“ We are also hoping that as soon as the rain recedes, we encourage farmers to replant so that the residual moisture in the soil plus irrigation can give up another crop , maybe by the end of December or early January. Otherwise , we may be in serious trouble for millet , rice, maize and sorghum . ”
On the laboratory , Ogbeh stated that the NASC , in its regulatory activities , had put in place the facility for diagnosis of prevalent diseases limiting crop yields , especially those that were not visible to the naked eye.
The Director General , NASC , Phillip Olusegun , said the agency’ s collaboration with stakeholders yielded the molecular facility .
He stated that the laboratory was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the Basics Programme on the Development of the Cassava Seed System .