Nigeria is now the largest producer of rice in Africa, Director-General,Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Dr Harold Roy-Macauley said Nigeria outstrip Egypt to become number 1 rice producer at 4 million tonnes a year.
Egypt was producing 4.3 tonnes annually but production has reduction by almost 40 percent this year, attributed to the Egyptian government decision to limit cultivated to preserve water resources.
Egypt rice cultivation requires about 1.8 billion metres of water in evaporation, transpiration and irrigation each year.
Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually.
He also said effort has been made to reduce rice importation in Africa by producing enough rice to meet expectation but he's not certain if this can work out because of increase in population.
He also said effort has been made to reduce rice importation in Africa by producing enough rice to meet expectation but he's not certain if this can work out because of increase in population.
In order to achieve this,?he said his centre is ready to partner with Nigeria and other governments in Africa to train farmers, extension officers and exporters on best practice’s in cultivation and post- harvest care and to understand market requirements.
Roy- Macauley stressed the African rice value chain needs to be better integrated and be capable of competing with imported rice in terms of quality.
He added that the goal to achieving rice self- sufficiency is not just about on farm assistance but also involves introducing rice varieties that fit the diverse African agro-ecologies, improve irrigation facilities and disseminate rice growing techniques to farmers.
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