Stakeholders To Reintroduce National Rice Development Council Bill

Agricultural stakeholders are pushing for the reintroduction of the National Rice Development Council Bill to drive transformation in the country’s rice industry.

The bill, supported by the FMANR/FS, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) ICON-1 MasterCard Foundation-funded project, and various stakeholders including CARF and RiPAIN, was passed by the 9th assembly but did not receive presidential assent before the previous administration ended.

The proposed bill which is part of the WOFAN ICON-2 project funded by the Mastercard Foundation, aimed to strengthen the rice production sector by establishing standards to improve packaging, quality, and the global competitiveness of Nigerian rice.

Speaking on the benefits of the bill at a stakeholders engagement in Abuja yesterday, the country project Director of WOFAN-ICON2 project, Dr Salamatu Garba noted that the bill aims to establish Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) to ensure the production of high-quality, fortified rice that meets international standards.

Garba highlighted the need for Nigerian rice to transition from local promotion to a globally recognised product.

According to her, the bill will introduce measures to boost quality, such as using certified seeds, securing adequate funding, and fortifying rice to enhance its nutritional value, thereby contributing to better health outcomes for Nigerians.

The legislation also emphasises inclusivity, focusing on gender, youth, and disability participation in the rice production process and aims to provide opportunities across the entire value chain, encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming practices and ensuring broad stakeholder engagement.