Ogbeh: Price Of Rice Will Stabilise By April

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbeh, has assured that the federal government would stabilise the price of rice from April.

The minister gave the assurance while declaring open the 2016 national wheat farmers field day in Alkamawa village in Bunkure local government area of Kano State, yesterday.

Ogbeh said the government had the intention of making rice affordable to everybody in the country and that the stability of price of rice would be very viable due to its demand and affordability to the people.

He pointed out that the boosting of wheat production and other cereals had become necessary to reduce over dependence on importation.

The minister said over 300,000 hectares of land in wheat producing states would be dedicated to boost wheat production.

“The government will continue to support farmers to encourage agricultural activity, enhance food security and employment generation in the country,” he said.

He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would diversify the economy with greater emphasis on agriculture and urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture to enhance their welfare and enable them become self-reliant.

In his remark, the chairman, Senate committee on agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu, said the Senate would make legislation to remove obstacles being faced by wheat farmers in the country.

On his part, Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu, said his state would dedicate 70 per cent of the proposed 300,000 for wheat production to boost its production.