How Nigeria overtook Egypt as largest rice producer in Africa - Official
- Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as largest producer of rice in Africa, the director general of Africa Rice Centre has said
- Harold Roy-Macauley said rice cultivation in Egypt requires 1.8 billion metres of water in evaporation among other factors
- Roy-Macauley noted that Nigeria has become the largest rice producer at four million tonnes a year
The director general of Africa Rice Centre, Harold Roy-Macauley, on Monday, February 4, said that Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as largest producer of rice in Africa.
The Nation reports that Roy-Macauley said Nigeria has become the largest rice producer at four million tonnes a year.
He noted that while Egypt was initially producing 4.3 tonnes per year, an almost 40% production reduction in 2019 attributed to the Egyptian government decision to limit cultivated to preserve water resources.
According to him, rice cultivation in Egypt requires 1.8 billion metres of water in evaporation, transpiration and irrigation each year while Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually.
READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
Roy-Macauley said there have been efforts to increase overall rice production in Africa although there are doubts that it will curb rice importation as population has increased across the continent.
He also said that the centre is ready to partner with Nigeria and other governments in Africa through training of farmers, extension officers and exporters on best practice’s in cultivation and post- harvest care and to understand market requirements to meet the production expectation.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu, had said that Nigeria is on the path of taking on the world in terms of rice production.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
The governor said this on Wednesday, December 19, at a Gala night organised by beneficiaries of the government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme held at the State House Conference Center, Abuja.
Bagudu who is the vice chairman of the national food security council, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown unprecedented commitments to agriculture development in Nigeria.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better.
Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
