Lagos State government has said that it is set to increase Rice production in the state because the bulk of Rice imported into the country is consumed by Lagosians.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Basorun made this statement during the opening of the 2015 Lagos Rice Fair, organized by Growth and Employment in the States (GEMS) in Agidingbi, Ikeja.
He explained that the state is ready to scale up food self-sufficiency from the present 10 percent to about 25 percent by 2018.
He called for potential investors in the rice value chain because Lagos state consumes 50 per cent of the 2 million metric tons of Rice Nigeria imports per annum.
He said that the state government has provided 1,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation in the state over the last four years with an integrated Rice Mill which was constructed and commissioned in Imota, Ikorodu in 2012.
Meanwhile Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole has said that the state can massively produce rice to feed the entire country if appropriate policies are put in place.
He said this while speaking with State House correspondents on Friday in Abuja.
He complained that the waivers granted to rice importers in the country by the previous administration saying turned Nigeria to a dumping ground.
He said “Edo could do a lot if the Federal Government has coherent agricultural policies that do not provide the window for waivers, and expired rice and cheap rice to be dumped on Nigeria.”
He noted that Leventis Group, which had a large rice farm in Agenebode is willing to resume Rice production once controversies over duty waivers are removed.