Rice farmers in
Nigeria can now access an international grant as massive as $600 million donated
by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other bodies to boost food
security.
The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, says it is working to
access the $30 billion agricultural grant contributed by the Foundation and
other donor agencies for rice production in Africa.
A team of experts
from Geneva had met with the association on the grant, which Nigerian farmers
can access as much as $600 million.
National President
of the association, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, told NAN in Abuja on Wednesday, that
the association had submitted a template that would qualify it for the
grant.
He said the visit was fallout of the Green Revolution Forum tagged
`New Push for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation,’ held in September 2016 in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where the fund was pledged by various
agencies.
He said the grant would cover various rice value chains
including production, processing, packaging and marketing, and would assist the
country attain self sufficiency in rice production.
“They said that
Nigeria will get about $600 million from the grant, it is going to be a
partnership between RIFAN, government and the private sector.
“There is
fear around the world that hunger will take over the world particularly
Africa. That is why some agencies have decided to put their monies together to
make sure that enough food is grown in Africa.
“That is why they want to
bring the grant to Nigeria and other African countries so that we will be part
of the beneficiaries toward achieving self sufficiency, particularly in
rice.
“Although rice is mainly the key crop covered by the grant, other
crops are still included in the grant,’’ he said.
