Rice Production Association Solicits Govt’s Support

The National Association of Rice Producers, Processors, Millers and Marketers in Nigeria (NARPPMMAN) have says in order to increase rice production, attract investment, encourage local consumption and address food security, governments at all levels must take drastic steps to ensure farmers have access to farming tools early enough.
Nasarawa State Chairman of NARPPMMAN, Abel Jilemsam made the appeal at the inauguration of the association’s local government area executive in Lafia, the state capital, recently.
Jilemsam also called for partnership with Nasarawa State Government in the provision of such facilities as tractors, tillers, threshers, planters, millers, destoners, and colour sorters to enable the farmers boost production and create rice pyramid in the State.
According to him, creating a rice pyramid in the State was achievable, due to fertile soil that is available for farming activities in the State.
He added that the association would remain competitive locally and internationally, and would continue to draw the government’s attention to the challenges faced by value chain players in order to attract funding from government and private financiers.
“As an organisation in the rice value chain, we are determined to harmonise our experiences in all areas of success and challenges to build massively to move rice commodity to an enviable stage to create the desired impact on the link between the value chain players from down to upstream.
“This will create specialisation among the actors, make the operational structure seamless, as well as create access to sustainable funding, structured market, fair pricing and a guaranteed off-take”, he said.