National rice development bill gains new support from stakeholders

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector are currently pushing for the reintroduction of the National Rice Development Council Bill, which aims at transforming Nigeria’s rice industry.

The bill which was backed by the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) ICON-1 MasterCard Foundation funded project and various stakeholders such as Competitive African Rice Forum (CARF) was approved by the Senate during the 9th assembly, but failed to receive presidential assent before the end of the last regime.

However, the proposed legislation, which is part of the WOFAN ICON-2 Mastercard Foundation-funded project, seeks to enhance the rice production sector by introducing standards that would improve packaging, quality, and the competitiveness of Nigerian rice in the global market.

Speaking on the benefits of the bill, the Country Project Director of WOFAN-ICON2 project, Dr. Salamatu Garba noted that the bill aims to establish Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) to ensure the production of high-quality, fortified rice that meets international standards.

Garba highlighted the need for Nigerian rice to transition from local promotion to a globally recognised product. According to her, the bill will introduce measures to boost quality, such as using certified seeds, securing adequate funding, and fortifying rice to enhance its nutritional value, thereby contributing to better health outcomes for Nigerians.

The legislation also emphasises inclusivity, focusing on gender, youth, and disability participation in the rice production process. It aims to provide opportunities across the entire value chain, encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming practices and ensuring broad stakeholder engagement.

A key issue addressed by the bill, she said, is the need to change the negative perception of locally produced rice, often criticised for containing impurities like stones.

“By setting higher quality standards, the bill aims to eliminate these issues, making local rice more appealing to consumers and improving its market value.

Peter Dama, the President of CARF, said, “the bill proposes capacity-building programs for farmers and enabling them to engage in backward integration. Currently, rice farmers primarily focus on producing paddy, while most of the profits are earned by industrial processors who use by-products like rice husks for activities such as briquette production.

“The proposed legislation seeks to empower farmers with the skills needed to participate in various aspects of rice production, thus increasing their earnings and contributing more effectively to the value chain.

Corroborating the discussion, Hajia Maimuna Lawal, who is the Strategies Innovation Director of WOFAN said “If enacted, the National Rice Development Council Bill is expected to boost Nigeria’s rice industry, enhancing the livelihoods of farmers and positioning Nigerian rice as a competitive player in the global market, while ensuring the production of high-quality, nutritious rice for consumers”, additionally, she said the bill, if passed and given assent, would provide guidance on rice research, comprehensive development of the rice sector and the organisation of rice stakeholders to enhance the local production of rice.

On his side, Mr Aremu Fakule, a member of the Competitive Rice Forum, noted that the bill will serve as a pivotal tool for sustainable rice development in the country.

“It will foster collaboration among stakeholders to boost local production..it will ensure opportunities for men and women among others”, he added.