Local rice farmers in Nigeria will commence export of the commodity in the next three years.
The Country Manager, Afex Commodities Exchange Nigeria, Ayodeji Balogun, stated this yesterday in Abuja.
This, he explained, is because his organisation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has initiated a system that will link rural farmers directly to local and international markets.
He said about 45, 000 farmers have been provided with secured storage facilities and an Electronic Warehouse Receipt System to provide sufficient grains for local consumption and enhance export opportunities.
According to Balogun: “We have 15 warehouses across the country and farmers in 30 kilometres radius can access these facilities.
“The farmers are broken into smaller units in terms of cooperatives and as they easily access the market.
“They are motivated to produce more while the market
naturally adjusts itself. So, Nigeria in the next three years should be exporting rice.”
In a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement signed with the federal government in 2014, AFEX Nigeria is expected to effectively organise the agriculture market and create value for farmers to raise national income.
He disclosed plans by the firm to commence export of other agricultural produce in partnership with rural farmers.
He added: “Our focus in the last one year is staple crops. This year, we are starting with export crops.”
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