The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kebbi, Alhaji Muhammed Sahabi-Augie on Sunday said the total rice output produced annually in the state has reached over four million tonnes.
Sahabi-Augie told some students on excursion at the Zauro Rice Pyramid near Birnin Kebbi, that the rise in production was as a result of massive support of the Federal Government and the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
He noted that before the intervention, the highest rice output was 700 metric tonnes.
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The chairman said that the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) has greatly helped farmers in the state and across the country.
He said: “Rice production output had increased from 700 metric tonnes to over four million metric tonnes per annum in the state.
“Before now, more than 80 per cent of the rice we consume in Nigeria was imported from China, Thailand and other countries, despite the fact that we have enough land and enough farmers to produce rice internally for our consumption.
“This is the kind of setback our economy went through.
“Agriculture used to be the bedrock of our economy in Nigeria, unfortunately, previous governments didn’t have the political will like what we are witnessing in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”
(NAN)
