Rice is one of the most consumed staples in Nigeria, with a consumption per capita of 32kg. In the past decade, consumption has increased 4.7%, almost four times the global consumption growth, and reached 6.4 million tonnes in 2017 – accounting for c.20% of Africa's consumption. As at 2011, rice accounted for 10% of household food spending, and 6.6% of total household spending*. Given the importance of rice as a staple food in Nigeria, boosting its production has been accorded high priority by the government in the past 7 years. Significant progress has been recorded; rice production in Nigeria reached a peak of 3.7 million tonnes in 2017.

Despite this improvement, comparatively, Nigeria's rice statistics suggest there is an enormous potential to raise productivity and increase production. Yields have remained at 2 tonne per hectare, which is about half of the average achieved in Asia. In addition, as population increases, along with rural to urban migration, ensuring food security in key staples becomes critical. However, food security cannot be achieved by a system that depends almost entirely on human muscle power and other manual methods.

Globally, rice production has grown at an annual average of 1.0% over the past decade, reaching 486.7 million tonnes in 2017. Most of this growth has come from Asia, accounting for 89% of global output. China and India are the largest producers, each with a share of 29.6% and 22.6% of global production respectively. In the rest of the world (ex-Asia),rice production has risen steadily over the past decades, accounting for 15% of total production by 2017, a marginal increase from 12% in the last two decades.

Global rice consumption remains strong, driven by both population and economic growth in Asia and Africa. Over the past two decades, rice demand increased at an annual average of 1.2% to reach 481.6 4 million tonnes in 2017.

The mechanisation gap

Nigeria's mechanisation has remained low at 0.3 hp/ha, relative to 2.6hp/ha in India and 8 hp/ha in China. The number of agricultural tractors is estimated around 22,000, relative to 1 million and 2.5 million in China and India respectively. Low income, limited access to affordable financing and the lack of technical skills have limited the adoption of mechanisation across the rice value chain.

We estimate that increasing the mechanisation rate in Nigeria from 0.3hp/ha to 0.8hp/ha in the next 5 years, can double rice production to 7.2 million tonnes. To achieve this, we estimate that Nigeria will need to at least triple its current stock of machinery over the same period. In addition to raising production, adequately increasing mechanisation has the capacity to raise yields, increase labour productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, increase income generated by farmers and deepen import substitution.

The opportunity

Nigeria's mechanisation gap provides numerous opportunities for investment across the agricultural value chain. To attract the required investment, the government needs to create an enabling environment that ensures mechanisation is profitable. In terms of priorities, the government should concentrate on: addressing challenges around land tenure and ownership, providing rural infrastructure and extension services, and ensuring incentives are transparent and accessible to all investors.

Source: https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/assets/pdf/boosting-rice-production.pdf

Front page: Lalasticlala mynd44

In the next 5 years, can double rice production to 7.2 million tonnes. To achieve this, we estimate that Nigeria will need to at least triple its current stock of machinery over the same period.

The lack of mechanization adversely effects agricultural industry productivity. Nigeria is only half as productive per hectare as other countries like India. According to their estimates Nigeria could double the productivity. If it did Nigeria wouldn't need to worry about imported rice competition.

The bans don't fix productivity issues with rice farming or agriculture in general. Farmers dont access to credit because they're risky because they dont have collateral. The land isn't theirs most of the time. Getting goods to market is also an issue for many farmers.

addressing challenges around land tenure and ownership

The land use act is a failure and should've never been added to constitutional. After 4 decades years only has 3% of land officially registered.

This info is very educative. We do have engineering students in many of our universities.

Some of them need to get hold of those machines few or lacking on the farms, break them down and reassemble them with locally made parts.

There is no excuse for looking for forex to import what we can make locally after about 60 years.

Blue3k:


The lack of mechanization adversely effects agricultural industry productivity. Nigeria is only half as productive per hectare as other countries like India. According to their estimates Nigeria could double the productivity. If it did Nigeria wouldn't need to worry about imported rice competition.

The bans don't fix productivity issues with rice farming or agriculture in general. Farmers dont access to credit because they're risky because they dont have collateral. The land isn't theirs most of the time. Infrastructure is a major issue getting goods to market.

If we are have it would be better we are less than 25%

Forget about mechanization for now ...like jonathan did let's focus on our yield per hectare and development of new breeds that can give us 8 tons to 12 tons a hectare ....

If we can get 10 tons per hectare ,investors would come into the sectors ...naturally the import would die

Closing border wont make any difference only increase price of local rice

When are we going to export garri/ Tuwo/ in large quantities?

mrvitalis:
Forget about mechanization for now ...like jonathan did let's focus on our yield per hectare and development of new breeds that can give us 8 tons to 12 tons a hectare ....

Nigeria can only avoid the inevitable for so long when it comes to mechanized farming. As I've read the biggest factors to rice productivity is how intensive the fsrming is. There average yeild for rice crope 3-6 tons per hecter. You get those higher yeilds your talking about with skill.

Blue3k:


Nigeria can only avoid the inevitable for so long when it comes to mechanized farming. As I've read the biggest factors to rice productivity is how intensive the fsrming is. There average yeild for rice crope 3-6 tons per hecter. You get those higher yeilds your talking about with skill.

I have invested in rice farming ,still investing the issue is about the yield most farmers can't get 1 ton per hectare even ...we need to develop our own seeds first

Thats the first thing

I'm guessing most didn't read the full pdf but here's some stuff I found interesting.

Nigeria's rice yield is one of the lowest globally at 2 tonne per hectare, relative to 4 – 7 tonne per hectare in Asia.

Nigeria's mechanisation rate is low at 0.3 hp/hectare, relative to India 2.6 hp/hectare, Vietnam 2.2hp/hectare and China 8hp/hectare. The FAO identified mechanisation as a key input for developing the agriculture sector in Sub-
Saharan Africa, recommending a minimum of 1.5 hp/hectare.

Empirical evidence suggests that
mechanisation promotes rice production.
According to a study conducted by Sultana et al (2015), which analysed the drivers of increased rice production in 5 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, farmers who ploughed with a tractor increased their production by 51% relative to those who utilised manual methods.

In India, custom hiring was a key initiative that accelerated the adoption of
mechanisation among small-holders farmers. This approach facilitated the rental of appropriate machines for a specified period of time, usually accompanied with an operator. It enabled farmers access required machinery
without purchasing it.

Also, where mechanisation has been successful, the role of government has in most cases been that of creating and supporting an enabling environment for private sector players to provide mechanisation services.

Simple analysis.
I have told them before and I'm still saying it again, even if border remained closed for one year with this present cost of production if you like increase duty by 1000% , foreign goods will still cost less with better quality.


Other countries are working vigorously on power and mechanization, we are closing our border with most farmers using crude equipments.


Once we have so many cosharis type of farm and Mill, who born the importer wey wan import rice.

I see people comment abouts how rice used to be rich mans food. I guess that's somewhat true. Demand for rice grows with per capita wealth. Im sure in future people will be surprised about how much meat Nigerians will be consuming in future aswell.

We estimate that increasing the mechanisation rate in Nigeria from 0.3hp/ha to 0.8hp/ha in the next 5 years, can double rice production to 7.2 million tonnes.To achieve this, we estimate that Nigeria will need to at least triple its current stock of machinery over the same period.

Uprety (2010) identified that the introduction of mechanisation in rice farming reduced production costs by 27% and increased profits per hectare by 36% in Nepal . Also, the AfricaRice policy stated that the use of appropriate technologies could reduce a country's rice imports by 17%.

Nigeria would need to be as productive as india or or China to keep up with future demands. The cost of rice by then will be relatively cheap.

Final bump:

Tonne per hectare should be addressed,the yields per hectare is not encouraging.

Blue3k:


Source: https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/assets/pdf/boosting-rice-production.pdf

Front page: Lalasticlala mynd44

They bring policies that are pre historic. archaic and outdated. if buhari in his first tenure hd adopted your suggestion there would have been no need for border closure. that man does not have brain minerals.

There is one evil bird that can earth up your farm in day ....government can help to eradicate this monster of a bird ....that can help a lot

Meet Israel they are the masters of pest control

Blue3k:


The lack of mechanization adversely effects agricultural industry productivity. Nigeria is only half as productive per hectare as other countries like India. According to their estimates Nigeria could double the productivity. If it did Nigeria wouldn't need to worry about imported rice competition.

The bans don't fix productivity issues with rice farming or agriculture in general. Farmers dont access to credit because they're risky because they dont have collateral. The land isn't theirs most of the time. Getting goods to market is also an issue for many farmers.

The bans will fix productivity issues especially with rice. This is because, with cheap imported smuggled rice, no one will invest in rice farming and processing. Rice farming and processing cannot attract much needed loan. Interest rates in Nigeria hovers between 25 - 30% per annum, how will farmers even pay the principal not to talk about paying the interest, when competing against cheap smuggled rice?

If the ban stays for a while and the investors in the rice business are able to recoup their investments and pay of bank loans, then after, they can reduce price to imported levels. That was how other industries like the telecoms industry grew.

meccuno:
They bring policies that are pre historic. archaic and outdated. if buhari in his first tenure hd adopted your suggestion there would have been no need for border closure. that man does not have brain minerals.

I agree he probably have achieved his goal by now. Buhari like alot of Nigerians are fixated on smugglers. The Nigerian government instituted a few good policies but it's not enough. India is best example to copy because they have mostly small scale farmers.

mrvitalis:
There is one evil bird that can earth up your farm in day ....government can help to eradicate this monster of a bird ....that can help a lot

Meet Israel they are the masters of pest control

Have u tried using noise makers, Chemical replelants or just shooting it. Get a rifle and end that birds career.

Blue3k:


I agree he probably have achieved his goal by now. Buhari like alot of Nigerians are fixated on smugglers. The Nigerian government instituted a few good policies but it's not enough. India is best example to copy because they have mostly small scale farmers.



Have u tried using noise makers, Chemical replelants or just shooting it. Get a rifle and end that birds career.

Bros ask any rice farmer lost millions to that bird nothing works except eagle which I don't have n can't buy

wirinet:


The bans will fix productivity issues especially with rice. This is because, with cheap imported smuggled rice, no one will invest in rice farming and processing. Rice farming and processing cannot attract much needed loan. Interest rates in Nigeria hovers between 25 - 30% per annum, how will farmers even pay the principal not to talk about paying the interest, when competing against cheap smuggled rice?

If the bank stays for a while and the investors in the rice business are able to recoup their investments and pay of bank loans, then after, they can reduce price to imported levels. That was how other industries like the telecoms industry grew.

No border closures wont increase crop yeilds per hectare. Mechanization does reduces labor cost, increases yeilds and profit. Nigerias rice production comes from more land being cultivated. People were investing in rice before the closure look at the charts. The farmers just couldn't keep up with demand hence all the imports.

The government already offers low rate loans through ABP. Have collateral also reduces risk for private sector investors meaning they wont need to charge as much interest. Only government is willing to lend below inflation rate as they've been doing.

Uprety (2010) identified that the introduction of mechanisation in rice farming reduced production costs by 27% and increased profits per hectare by 36% in Nepal . Also, the AfricaRice policy stated that the use of appropriate technologies could reduce a country's rice imports by 17%.

According to a study conducted by Sultana et al (2015), which analysed the drivers of increased rice production in 5 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, farmers who ploughed with a tractor increased their production by 51% relative to those who utilised manual methods.

Blue3k:


No border closures wont increase crop yeilds per hectare. Mechanization does reduces labor cost, increases yeilds and profit. Nigerias rice production comes from more land being cultivated. People were investing in rice before the closure look at the charts. The farmers just couldn't keep up with demand hence all the imports.

The government already offers low rate loans through ABP. Have collateral also reduces risk for private sector investors meaning they wont need to charge as much interest. Only government is willing to lend below inflation rate as they've been doing.

You still do not get it, probably you don't understand economics or you are not a business man. Even if you are a businessman, you are probably a trader.

Machines are very expensive and require huge capital investments. My friend that into rice processing tells me he needs a rice sorter to separate the coloured rice from the white ones, as pure white rice has high value. He said the machine alone cost N8 million from Europe. Now if he borrows N8 million from bank at 25%, how can he pay back principal and interest if he has to contend with cheap smuggled rice?

Accessing government loans is a herculean task and government only provide loans for small scale farmers. Rice processing machines are extremely expensive. The full rice processing machines like boiler, dehusking machine, dryer, destoning machine, polishing machine and sorting machine costs tens of millions each.

In manufacturing and productions, recouping of investment and repayment of loans in the short possible time is the goal. After that goal have been met, the manufacturer reduce price to only reflect running and maintenance costs.

If cheap foreign alternative is available, local industries can never take off. China itself banned imports for 40 years to allow local manufacturers to germinate and expand, even now China strictly regulates imports. (This is one of the beef Trump has with china).

mrvitalis:

Bros ask any rice farmer lost millions to that bird nothing works except eagle which I don't have n can't buy

What is the bird called. How do others countries deal with it?

wirinet:


You still do not get it, probably you don't understand economics or you are not a business man. Even if you are a businessman, you are probably a trader.

Machines are very expensive and require huge capital investments. My friend that into rice processing tells me he needs a rice sorter to separate the coloured rice from the white ones, as pure white rice has high value. He said the machine alone cost N8 million from Europe. Now if he borrows N8 million from bank at 25%, how can he pay back principal and interest if he has to contend with cheap smuggled rice?

Accessing government loans is a herculean task and government only provide loans for small scale farmers. Rice processing machines are extremely expensive. The full rice processing machines like boiler, dehusking machine, dryer, destoning machine, polishing machine and sorting machine costs tens of millions each.

In manufacturing and productions, recouping of investment and repayment of loans in the short possible time is the goal. After that goal have been met, the manufacturer reduce price to only reflect running and maintenance costs.

If cheap foreign alternative is available, local industries can never take off. China itself banned imports for 40 years to allow local manufacturers to germinate and expand, even now China strictly regulates imports. (This is one of the beef Trump has with china).

Allow that my Ghanaian friend be, he's not been happy since the closure and always trying to lecture Nigeria and Nigerians, why can't he be lecturing his home country about mechanised rice farming?

wirinet:

What is the bird called. How do others countries deal with it?

Its an African problem ...thats why no great rice farmers in Africa

Just pray they don't attack

wirinet:

Machines are very expensive and require huge capital investments. My friend that into rice processing tells me he needs a rice sorter to separate the coloured rice from the white ones, as pure white rice has high value. He said the machine alone cost N8 million from Europe. Now if he borrows N8 million from bank at 25% from bank, how can he pay back principal and interest if he has to contend with cheap smuggled rice?

Accessing government loans is a herculean task and government only provide loans for small scale farmers. Rice processing machines are extremely expensive. The full rice processing machines like boiler, dehusking machine, dryer, destoning machine, polishing machine and sorting machine costs tens of millions each.

In manufacturing and productions, recouping of investment and repayment of loans in the short possible time is the goal. After that goal have been met, the manufacturer reduce price to only reflect running and maintenance costs.

If cheap foreign alternative is available, local industries can never take off. China itself banned imports for 40 years to allow local manufacturers to germinate and expand, even now China strictly regulates imports. (This is one of the beef Trump has with china).

Lol if you actually read the article you know farmers dont have to buy the machines. India increased it's Mechanization rate by getting private sector and government to lend out machines to farmers. The plan worked without them having to shut borders. Reasonable tarriffs on rice and enhanced border security work just as well.

80% of farming is done by small scale farmers anyway. Government should simply streamline the process and consider commercial farmers. It's probably not good a idea because that's going to lead to bigger crowding out effect.

I dont see why you guys praise Maoist China's policies when you know China biggest improvement came after liberating their markets. The great leap to starvation isn't what any sane person would copy.

In India, custom hiring was a key initiative
that accelerated the adoption of mechanisation among small-holders farmers. This approach facilitated the rental of appropriate machines for a specified period of time, usually accompanied with an operator. It enabled farmers access required machinery without purchasing it.

The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) set up custom hiring centres across 100 villages in India. With a focus to institutionalise mechanisation at the village level, these centres rented agricultural equipment to small scale farmers. The centres were managed by committees who determined the price and
operational model, considering socioeconomic factors and the crop intensity of each village.

Blue3k:


The land use act is a failure and should've never been added to constitutional. After 4 decades years only has 3% of land officially registered.

what I have been saying , industrialization is the way not agriculture practice like the days of Noah and mosses. You just don't declare you are capable of feeding the whole nation becuse one governor somewhere says he has acquired over 2000 hectares of land and prepared farmers to work on the rice plantation. what if all rice end up with pest destruction. Nigeria needs to think like a smart country, No one close border in 21 century except for war or disease alert .....


Nigeria make una think

Read this thread https://www.nairaland.com/4118905/rice-farming-sweet-bitter-experience-looking and meet real people who have tried rice farming and not these arm chair analyst.
Rather than all the excuses, we should be coming up with cheap solutions not all these condemnation flying around

wirinet:

What is the bird called. How do others countries deal with it?

vaxx2:
what I have been saying , industrialization is the way not agriculture practice like the days of Noah and mosses. You just don't declare you are capable of feeding the whole nation becuse one governor somewhere says he has acquired over 2000 hectares of land and prepared farmers to work on the rice plantation. what if all rice end up with pest destruction. Nigeria needs to think like a smart country, No one close border in 21 century except for war or disease alert .....


Nigeria make una think

I have other threads on industrialization in general. Africa in general needs focus producing secondary goods for export. Primary goods dont command premium since cocoa is cocoa. Ghana and Ivory coast should worry about producing chocolate instead of price fixing cocoa. Doing that takes both countries out of commodity price boom bust cycle. The chocolate market is sweeter than cocoa market anyway.

In recent times, Ghana has imported about US$8 million worth of chocolate a year, but exported US$2 billion in cocoa beans. It is a gap the government has long been keen to address, and one that go-getting Ghanaian businesses are determined to fill.

The Nigerian government understands the need for more mechanized farming but they simply haven't done enough. I noticed the article did mention a few initiatives. The border will eventually reopen and we'll be back to discussing these issues at the end of the day.

In addition, through the Central Bank of
Nigeria, funding has been made available
to rice farmers at affordable rates through
the Anchor Borrower’s Programme. Also,
favourable trade policies by the government – zero tariffs on machinery and equipment, quotas and licenses - have positively impacted domestic rice production.

vaxx2:
what I have been saying , industrialization is the way not agriculture practice like the days of Noah and mosses. You just don't declare you are capable of feeding the whole nation becuse one governor somewhere says he has acquired over 2000 hectares of land and prepared farmers to work on the rice plantation. what if all rice end up with pest destruction. Nigeria needs to think like a smart country, No one close border in 21 century except for war or disease alert .....


Nigeria make una think

See them advisers, instead of going to lecture the Ghanaian government about mechanised rice farming, you're still fixated on Nigeria opening her borders. Why can't you produce same rice and export to Nigeria since maybe you already have excess rice and mechanised rice farming?

wirinet:

What is the bird called. How do others countries deal with it?

You are not talking to a rational person

Low yield could also be as a result of inability to effectively combat pests e.g rodents and birds.

mrvitalis:
Forget about mechanization for now ...like jonathan did let's focus on our yield per hectare and development of new breeds that can give us 8 tons to 12 tons a hectare ....

If we can get 10 tons per hectare ,investors would come into the sectors ...naturally the import would die

Closing border wont make any difference only increase price of local rice

Which Jonathan?... David's friend?