Honourable Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide on Tuesday reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government and FCT Administration to ensuring the country’s self-sufficiency in rice production by 2015.
The minister stated this in Abuja during a meeting with Managing Director of Rice Africa, a Pan-African organisation, Dr. Edwin Idu, observing that agriculture is one of the pillars of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is making appreciable progress towards ensuring that the nation is self-sufficient in rice production by 2015. It has revolutionised the agriculture sector with the development of a new policy aimed at making agriculture commercial,” she said.
“The government has introduced the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) aimed at revamping the agriculture sector, ensuring food security, diversifying the economy, and enhancing foreign exchange earnings.
“Under ATA, key initiatives such as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) have been introduced to support smallholder farmers in the agriculture value chain. The ultimate goal is to ensure that agriculture is practised as lucrative commercial enterprise that is not only sustainable but also attractive to youths and young people.”
Akinjide disclosed that the FCT had been allocated two rice mills by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and they will be deployed in Abaji and Kwali Area Council
“The Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments, has initiated a Rice Mills Programme and is procuring rice mills for distribution to the states of the Federation and FCT. The FCT Administration is supporting the government’s initiative and will ensure adequate infrastructure for the programme,” she added.
Earlier in his address, the managing director of Rice Africa solicited the support of the administration for the second International Conference on Rice for Food Market and Development slated for March 6 to 8, 2013.
Idu explained that the international conference is an annual event for developing rice promoters’ capacities in Africa.
“We are expecting over 600 participants from Japan and other Asian countries, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and other African countries. The conference is aimed at encouraging new ideas and innovative approaches relevant to delivery of rice value chain,” he said.
“The conference will also discuss rice service delivery research and development strategies that meet the changing needs of smallholder rice farmers under a range of rice sector development scenarios
