By wyetu Asabe Hope
Rice farmers across Nigeria have raised concerns over the rising importation of rice, warning that the trend is crippling local production and pushing many producers out of business.
The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, linked the downturn in local production to the Federal Government’s import duty waiver on rice and other essential commodities introduced in 2024.
The Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, said the policy had triggered a surge in rice imports, creating an uneven playing field for local producers.
“With the renewal of the import waiver, tonnes of rice are entering the country.
This is crippling local cultivation and forcing many farmers out of business,” he said.
Agbayewa added that beyond import pressures, farmers were also grappling with rising production costs driven by climate variability and global economic tensions.
“Inconsistent climate patterns are affecting yields, while the ongoing Iran-Israel-US crisis has pushed up fertiliser prices.
Most agro-inputs are now beyond the reach of average farmers,” he said.
He warned that many smallholder farmers might abandon rice cultivation entirely this planting season due to mounting losses.
“At what cost can local farmers compete? A farmer producing locally may need to sell at ₦60,000 to ₦65,000 per bag, while importers bring in large volumes and sell for as low as ₦40,000. It is not sustainable,” he added.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Raphael Hunsa, called for urgent government intervention, noting that many farmers were barely surviving.
“Rice farming has become highly unpredictable.
Many farmers cannot afford fertilisers, and breaking even is a challenge. We are not even talking about profit anymore, he said.
Hunsa criticised the lack of effective support systems, arguing that government interventions often fail to reach grassroots farmers.
“If farmers are properly supported, imported rice will naturally lose its dominance in the market,” he added.
Meanwhile, a rice trader in Agege, Mrs Tolu Ajiboye, confirmed that increased imports had led to a noticeable drop in prices.
“During the Easter period, a 50kg bag sold for about ₦61,000 to ₦63,000. Now, due to the influx of imported rice, prices have dropped to between ₦51,000 and ₦55,000,” she said.
Ajiboye noted that consumer preference for cheaper imported rice was further weakening demand for local brands.
“Some local producers now rebag their rice in foreign packaging just to stay competitive,” she said.
Stakeholders warn that without targeted support, Nigeria’s rice sector could face a significant decline, undermining efforts to achieve food security and reduce import dependence.