Apparently battling with sharp drop in importation from Nigeria, a group of businessmen including rice farmers from Thailand are in Nigeria to seek partnership with Nigerian farmers.
To firm this up, the Thailand Business Group and Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on local rice production and processing for local and international markets.
Speaking at a meeting between rice farmers and Thailand Group in Abuja on yesterday, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, the National President, RIFAN, said that the partnership would lead to production and milling of rice locally.
Goronyo said the MoU would also facilitate improved access to rice technologies and help increase rice production for local consumption and exports.
He confirmed that the Thailand rice farmers came to Nigeria because Nigeria’s rice importation policy which has drastically cut down the nation’s rice importation bill, is negatively affecting the Thai farmers.
According to him, the partnership between the two countries will come with rice seeds that will give rice farmers higher yields.
‘‘Before 2015, our yield per hectare was not more than two to three tones, but from 2015 when this rice revolution in Nigeria started, today, we have varieties that give us five to 10 tonnes per hectare.
‘‘In Thailand, it is 15 to 17 tonnes per hectare and that is what they want to bring to Nigeria.
‘‘They were in our office to request for partnership to enable them come to Nigeria and establish businesses since they are no longer making money from importing rice into this country.
‘‘They want to come to Nigeria to partner with us, to see how we can do this business with them.
‘‘We are happy that they came because Nigeria is no more buying from them and the business there is no more booming as before.
‘‘You are welcome to Nigeria. We can partner with you but virtually to manufacture, produce and mill rice locally.
‘‘Thailand started this rice business about 150 years ago and they have knowledge about seeds; scientifically, technologically, they are among the best in the world.
‘‘It will take us time before we become like Thailand in terms of technology and getting farming so easy and cheap, and that is why we have agreed to partner with them,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the country had achieved 95 per cent self-sufficiency in rice production, adding that in the next eight months, the country would begin exportation of parboiled rice to neighbouring African countries.
‘‘We hope that in the next two production cycles, which will be between seven to eight months, we will be able to export the rice we produce in Nigeria to neighbouring African countries.
‘‘They should come to Nigeria and do this business because even other African countries will not go to Thailand again to import rice because.
“We will be feeding Africa from here, because we have the capacity.’’
Dr Shah Siraji, the International Team Leader of the group, commended the rice initiative and revolution of the Federal Government.
Siraji said the partnership would help rice stakeholders to learn from Thailand’s experiences and domesticate them to increase local rice production.
‘‘Nigeria’s initiative in rice is excellent, the country needs to be self-sufficient, but there are steps to be taken, that is where we come in, ’’ he said.
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