The Nation News: Nigeria becomes Africa’s Largest Rice Producer

Nigeria is now Africa’s largest producer of rice according to the Director-General, Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Harold Roy-Macauley.

In a recent development, Nigeria with production cap at 4 million tonnes annually has surpassed Egypt, having reduced their production of 4.3 million tonnes annually by 40 percent to preserve water resources.

According to The Nation, Macauley said there were efforts to increase overall rice production in Africa but expressed doubts that it will curb rice importation as population has increased across the continent and that his centre is ready to partner with Nigeria and other governments in Africa to meet expectations.

Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually.

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