Some rice farmers have appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with affordable loan facilities to boost production to reduce the price of the commodity as they described the border closure as a welcome development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the price of a 50kg bag of local rice, which sold for N14,000 before the border closure Aug. 19, now goes for N22,000.
The farmers, who called for the loans in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, noted that the current price of rice was too high.
A Benue-based rice farmer, Mr. Egio Boniface, said there was a need for the government to provide loans to enable them to increase their productivity.
Boniface faulted the government’s failure to carry rice farmers along before the border closure, adding that the increase in the price of the commodity should be expected.
“Before we can address the increase in the price, farmers need to have prepared to boost their production through the cultivation of high-yield species.
“We are expecting that the government will give us loans to secure inputs on time to produce high-yield rice to reduce the cost for the benefit of Nigerians.
“We need the help of the government to help the rice farmers to breakeven,” he said. According to him, when farmers increase their production, the price of the commodity will fall.
Another farmer, Mr. Adenekan Ayodele noted that farmers should be adequately supported by the government with affordable loans and other inputs. “Farmers need to invest more in production to reduce the price of rice in the market.”
