Chief Audu Ogbeh, The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has said Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production by November. The minister said this will lead to a reduction in the price of the commodity.
He frowned on what he called the people’s unbridled penchant and
taste for foreign foods, most of which he said are not as healthy and
nutritious as those produced in the country.
Ogbeh spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at a town hall meeting on sustainable agriculture.
It was attended by farmers, youths, women and other stakeholders in the Agriculture sector.
The dialogue, which featured questions and answers session, was
hosted by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Commissioner for Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi.
The meeting, which aimed at clearing a new path for agriculture’s
rebirth, climaxed a two-day working visit of the minister to
agricultural facilities, including farms, dams, farm settlements and
others across the state.
Ogbeh decried what he called the culture of wastages and abandonment
in the country, saying this accounted for decaying facilities and
monuments dotting the landscape.
He said: “By November, we will be self-sufficient in rice production.
We will no longer need to import rice. And let me tell you: our rice is
safer, tastier and healthier than the foreign brands.
“Patronise our farmers, eat healthy; eat Nigerian rice. Another
cheery news is that we will soon bring down the price of rice. Nigerians
should embrace local products and stop importation of useless things.
“We are a country that has penchant for importation without exporting
anything. In fact, some people will even order for pizza from London
for delivery by British Airways. They will tell you London pizza tastes
better.
“We import champagnes, cookies, toilet papers and even toothpicks. We
have this taste for foreign products. This is killing us; it is killing
our economy.”
He urged Ajimobi to prevail on land owners to surrender same for
agricultural purposes, adding that the Federal Government was prepared
to join hands with the state in its agricultural revolution.
He also added that Oyo State topped the list of cashew producers in
the country, pledged that a cashew processing plant would be established
in the state in the next six months.
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