The Lagos State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has blamed unscrupulous elements for frustrating the cultivation of local rice.

The RIFAN chairman, Raphael Hunsa, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Lagos. He spoke against the backdrop of the recent hike in the price of rice.

“We really need God to have mercy on our country, Nigeria; the federal government is trying its possible best, but some fellows are hell-bent on frustrating the existence of local rice.

“They know that if local rice exists and thrives, there will be no more importation of foreign rice or indiscriminate increase of the produce.

“With this current hike in the price of rice, we want the federal government not to relent on its efforts; they should continue to support and empower local farmers, one day we will get there, in achieving price stability,” Mr Hunsa stated.

He urged the government to ensure that farmers receive the provided inputs or machinery directly, instead of through “political farmers.” He said this would ensure proper monitoring.

Mr Hunsa urged commodity heads not to collide with unscrupulous persons in destroying the economy.

“We also want commodity heads to know that the government is trying; they should not collude with unscrupulous persons to destroy our economy.

“If the government continues intervening in the sector, the price of rice will be stabilised,” he said.

On his part, the chairman of the South-West and Lagos State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Femi Oke, called on the federal government to involve the farmers’ associations in its policy decisions.

He noted that the price of rice had reduced for some time due to a tax exemption for its importation by the federal government for six months.

“However, in making decisions like this, the government should get the farmers’ associations involved. They should ask what we really want because the tax exemption lasted for a while, but did not solve the price issue.

“If we are not brought on board, we may not get it right. We are the stakeholders in the sector, and the government should involve us in its policy decisions.

“So, to get the price of rice stable, the government needs to liaise with stakeholders like AFAN,” Mr Oke said.

He called for the empowerment of local farmers with inputs to boost rice production in the country.

“The waiver on tax for the importation of rice is not the solution; the government needs to empower local farmers,” he said.

A 50kg bag of rice sold between N52,000 and N55,000, depending on its species, from the second quarter of 2025 till last month.

However, the same quantity sells between N75,000 and N85,000, depending on the species at the moment.

The local annual rice production capacity is estimated at 8.44 million tonnes, while Nigeria imports about two million metric tonnes of rice annually, making it one of the largest rice importers globally.

(NAN)