RIFAN, AFAN blame saboteurs for insufficient local rice production, price surge

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Lagos State chapter, has blamed saboteurs for frustrating local rice cultivation amid a sharp increase in market prices.
RIFAN chairman, Raphael Hunsa, made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) over the weekend in Lagos.
Hunsa alleged that certain individuals are working against the success of local rice in order to sustain the importation of foreign brands and manipulate prices.
“They know that if local rice thrives, there will be no more importation or indiscriminate price hikes,” he said.
He urged the federal government to intensify support for genuine farmers and ensure that farming inputs and machinery reach them directly.
“Let it come directly to the farmers and not be diverted to political farmers. If it comes directly, proper monitoring will be assured,” he added.
Hunsa also cautioned commodity heads against colluding with saboteurs, warning that such actions could destabilize the economy.
Similarly, the chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the southwest and Lagos State, Femi Oke, called for greater involvement of farmer associations in government decision-making.
He attributed the recent temporary drop in rice prices to a six-month tax exemption on rice importation, which has now expired.
“With the subsidy period over, prices have surged again. The government must consult stakeholders like AFAN to find lasting solutions,” Oke said.
He emphasized that empowering local farmers with inputs was more sustainable than temporary waivers on imported rice.
“Rice is a staple food in Nigeria. Every household consumes it, so we must prioritise its production. Let’s use our arable land for farming, not just building,” he added.
According to NAN, a 50kg bag of rice that previously sold for between N52,000 and N55,000 in early 2025 now costs between N75,000 and N85,000, depending on the species.
Nigeria produces about 8.44 million tonnes of rice annually but still imports nearly two million metric tonnes, making it one of the world’s largest rice importers.