Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has disclosed that Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production by November this year, which will lead to a reduction in the price of the commodity.
The minister made the disclosure during a town hall meeting on sustainable agriculture hosted by the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi.
Chief Ogbeh condemned people’s rampant fondness and desire for foreign foods, most of which, he said, were not as healthy and nutritious as those produced locally.
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 ones.
“Patronize our farmers, eat healthy. Eat Nigerian rice. Another cheering news is that we will soon bring down the price of rice. Nigerians should embrace local products and stop importation of useless things.
The session which was attended by farmers, youths, women and other stakeholders in agriculture, at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday featured question and answer session.
The minister also visited agricultural facilities, including farms, dams, farm settlements and others across the state.
In his remark, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi appealed to the people to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, which he said was paramount to the economic survival of the country.
He called on the citizens to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, saying, “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.”
The minister, who disclosed that Oyo State topped the list of cashew producers in the country, said that a cashew processing plant would be established in the state within the next six months.
While urging the governor to prevail on land owners to surrender them for agricultural purposes, he said that the FG was prepared to join hands with the state government on its agric revolution.
He expressed regret that over-dependence of the country on accruals from oil production had robbed it of the development of other sectors, especially agriculture, which was once the nation’s cash cow.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has disclosed that Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production by November this year, which will lead to a reduction in the price of the commodity.
The minister made the disclosure during a town hall meeting on sustainable agriculture hosted by the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi.
Chief Ogbeh condemned people’s rampant fondness and desire for foreign foods, most of which, he said, were not as healthy and nutritious as those produced locally.
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 ones.
“Patronize our farmers, eat healthy. Eat Nigerian rice. Another cheering news is that we will soon bring down the price of rice. Nigerians should embrace local products and stop importation of useless things.
The session which was attended by farmers, youths, women and other stakeholders in agriculture, at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday featured question and answer session.
The minister also visited agricultural facilities, including farms, dams, farm settlements and others across the state.
In his remark, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi appealed to the people to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, which he said was paramount to the economic survival of the country.
He called on the citizens to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, saying, “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.”
The minister, who disclosed that Oyo State topped the list of cashew producers in the country, said that a cashew processing plant would be established in the state within the next six months.
While urging the governor to prevail on land owners to surrender them for agricultural purposes, he said that the FG was prepared to join hands with the state government on its agric revolution.
He expressed regret that over-dependence of the country on accruals from oil production had robbed it of the development of other sectors, especially agriculture, which was once the nation’s cash cow.
