How ban on imported rice makes the difference in Ebonyi
If you search round Abakaliki, the Ebony State capital, it will be extremely difficult to find imported rice on display for sale. On the other hand, Abakaliki Rice is everywhere. The processing and packaging gets better as more advanced technology is brought into the value chain.
The ban, according to stakeholders, is a blessing for the state because the state now eats what it produces and sells the rest to states not only in the region, but round the country.
The one-man, onehectare policy introduced in the state has really encouraged the people to scale up production.
The state government through various loan facilities has invested a total of about N10 billion in infrastructures with the aim to domesticate rice production in the state.
Already, the state government has established three mega rice mills that are in operation, with one in each of the senatorial districts in the last seven months; apart from the over 500 private people that are milling with their traditional machines.
The mills now take over 1.2 million bags of 100kg paddy to remain in operation for 12 calendar months.
Mr Matthew Uguru is the General Manager, Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Corporation, who told journalists that the state has enough paddy rice to meet the demand of the mills in the zones.
He said the stock will keep the mills running for the next two months when new harvest is expected.
He called on the Federal Government to sustain the rice policy for at least three years to stabilize domestic production, adding that any attempt to open the borders will dampen the morale of farmers.
Chief Moses O. Nomeh, is the state Commissioner for Agriculture, he told Daily Trust that every effort is channeled to sustainable rice production, adding government has put in place necessary measures to encourage production.
The commissioner stressed that the ban on the sale of foreign rice in addition to huge investment by the state government were huge incentives for domestic production.
Mr Itapah Azuobu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Rice, express worry over what he called importation of toxic rice. He called on the Federal Government to institute total ban on foreign rice adding that if that is not done, the nation cannot get it right on rice.
“If NAFDAC can go after fake drugs even in stores, why can’t the customs go after foreign rice in the market?” he asked.
Governor David Umahi of the state said his investment particularly in rice was informed by the fact that the state does not have any other means of raising its IGR other than agriculture and solid minerals.
“We’ve been able to encourage farmers in the state. We’ve been able to demonstrate that one hectare of land if you till it and plant rice is better than been a councillor. You make more money than being a councilor or even a commissioner,” he said.
The governor also said: “We are going beyond individual production, we are now beginning to see how we can institute what we call rice mega cities in each local government whereby we have 5,000 dedicated for rice production.
“We have imported and ordered for three set of rice mills which we will install in the next three to four months. The idea is that before the middle of next year, we will be able to have one rice mill in each local government area,” he said.
The governor stressed that Ebonyi is also introducing the system of standardization in terms of pricing and in terms of quality. So that if a farmer has rice to sell, he has to come to the buying centre in each local government so that it will be weighed in order to know how much he will be paid - according to grade, quality and varieties.
Also, for a particular quality of milled rice, the state will have uniform prices.
“We will also be able to monitor the quality of our rice. We are known all over for Abakaliki Rice. We are very proud of that and we want to ensure that the quality is standard,” he stated.