The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Lagos state chapter has voiced concerns over the federal government’s recent decision to permit duty-free rice imports for the next 150 days, with the aim to lower rice prices.
The chairman of RIFAN Lagos, Mr Raphael Hunsa, criticized the policy in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, arguing that it disadvantages local farmers and favors foreign producers.
Mr. Hunsa stated, “The import duties exception the government has granted for rice imports will greatly affect local rice production. This will license and give opportunities to businessmen to import their rice free-of-charge. This development is not encouraging to local rice farmers at all; it is not beneficial to us. This means the government is encouraging more rice imports at the detriment of our local rice.”
He emphasized the need for government support for local rice farmers, similar to the support provided to farmers in countries from which Nigeria imports rice.
“What we are asking the government to do is to empower local rice farmers so that the country will move forward. The countries we are importing from, if their government did not empower their farmers for increased rice production, they would not produce enough to export. So, let our government support rice farmers too, and let this support get to the right people, so it will not be a scam. We believe some groups have confused and advised this government wrongly on this policy.”
Mr. Hunsa further expressed the discontent of rice farmers with the policy, stating, “Rice farmers are not happy about this policy; we are disadvantaged by it. We were not considered in this policy formulation.”
Recall that the federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, announced plans for duty-free importation of select food commodities such as rice, maize, and wheat.
This initiative aims to increase food supply and replenish the government’s strategic grain reserve. The Minister of Agriculture confirmed that the government hopes to reduce food prices in the second half of the year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria’s food inflation was above 40% in May 2024, revealing that prices of staple foods such as rice, maize, wheat, bread, and beans have more than doubled over the past year.
