Price of rice down as traders flock to market (See new price/photos)

Nigeria’s plan to be food-independent by 2017 seems to be on course as rice markets boom in the north.

In a post and pictures shared by Yusuf Usman Shettima, he noted that somewhere in the north, prices of rice have gone down as low as N550 to N700 per measure. 

He wrote: This is a rice market somewhere in Northern Nigeria  

As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. I strongly believe that Nigeria has to start somewhere and this is a good beginning

A measure of rice is being sold in this market for N550 to N700 depending on the quality and its finishing. The promise land is not far away!

This development is in line with what the minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said about Nigeria’s decision to stop importation of rice before the end of 2017. 

He said this at an assessment tour of Coscharis Rice Farm in Anaku, in the Ayemelum Local Government Area of Anambra state. 

He praised Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their role in the country by giving a lot of credit support, and also allocating the scarce foreign exchange adding that once a country can provide for itself, then it can achieve anything. He had said: 

“In fact we may stop rice importation sooner than that. It is final word I am telling you, because Nigerians have proven that they can do it and I am proud that I can see this thing in Anambra state. 

“People who don’t know Anambra do not even know what potential sexist for agriculture. 

I am also proud of the role the CBN is playing because they are giving a lot of credit support, even allocating the scarce foreign exchange that we have to a critical sector like agriculture.” 

See photos of the rice market below: