The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) said Sunday it has produced 15 million tons of rice this year.
RIFAN National Vice President Segun Atho said the association's rice production in 2017 exceeded the rice needs of Nigeria's population by seven million metric tons a year.
The RIFAN Executive spoke at the Rice Ceremony Celebrating Nigeria held at Foursquare Gospel Church, Yaba, Lagos.
"We produce 15 million tons of rice and Nigerians can only consume six to seven million tons, we produce surpluses and we can export the rest to some African countries.
"We have about 85 million hectares of land, about six to seven million hectares can be used to grow rice that can feed Nigerians.
"As farmers, we make Nigerian rice available to Nigerians, we urge Nigerians to look inward and start attending rice in Nigeria," said the RIFAN official.
At the ceremony, Dr. Adebola Osibon, head of the church's children's ministry, also urged parents to encourage their children to become farmers.
"I think it will have a positive impact on children, children did not know that being a rice farmer is important and good," he said.
Mr. Sagar Joe, Policy Advisor, Competitive African Rice Initiative / John Kufour Foundation, said the ceremony was intended to educate Nigerians about the quality and availability of Nigerian rice through children.
"The program consists of identifying one or two schools that organize the end of year student party, know the number of bags of rice needed to feed the students and provide them free of charge.
"It also aims to significantly improve the livelihoods of major rice producers in some African countries by increasing the competitiveness of domestic rice supply to meet growing regional demands," he said.
The event was organized by RIFAN and Competitive African Rice in collaboration with Foursquare Gospel Church.
More than 700 children from the church and neighboring communities of Makoko, Ijora-Badia, Ojuelegba and Bariga attended the ceremony.
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