- She attributed the current high prices of rice to several factors including the prevalence of rice blast disease, insecurity, farmer-herder conflicts, and the inflation of input costs
The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) is urging the federal government to reinstate the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) and tackle insecurity nationwide as measures to address the persistent rise in rice prices.
Mrs. Nnenna Ejim, the Vice President of RIFAN, made this plea during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), where she discussed the factors contributing to the recent surge in rice prices.
She attributed the current high prices of rice to several factors including the prevalence of rice blast disease, insecurity, farmer-herder conflicts, and the inflation of input costs.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) launched the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) in November 2015 to facilitate economic linkages between SmallHolder Farmers (SHF) and Anchors. Over 4.67 million farmers engaged in maize, rice, or wheat farming have benefited from the program.
A total of N1.12 trillion has been disbursed to 563 anchors, with N670.4 billion repaid and N450.90 billion outstanding.
Ejim stated, “Government policy on anchor borrower was not implemented last year because of election and other factors like COVID-19 impact has created a huge gap in rice cultivation hence the hike.”
“The Russian-Ukraine war is affecting us seriously because they are the greatest provider of fertiliser and other input which we are the moment we have difficulties getting such input.
“The way forward in ensuring a drastic reduction in the price of rice is that the government should prioritise the security of its populace both in the farms and around communities.
“Farmers should be given inputs at subsidise rate and also enlighten farmers on climate-smart agriculture so that they will not risk their lives or production trying to cultivate areas with lots of floods.”