(By Light Shedrack)
Rice is one of Nigeria’s major staple foods. Prior to now, Nigeria spent billions of dollars every year on rice importation from Thailand and India, majorly. To encourage local rice production, the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN came up with intervention schemes, under its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP). The scheme is aimed at increasing local rice production which thus would discourage rice importation.
As much noble as the move by the Central Bank of Nigeria looks, there are lots of questions left unanswered such as the environmental impact of the scheme and looming protein deficiency that may hit the country.
This could possibly be because Nigeria is a country that hardly makes long term plans or considers the long term effects of certain policies it pursues. We believe in make-shift and fire-brigade approach to issues of national interest.
While Nigeria sees local rice production as the next big thing, some countries that are hitherto major rice farmers are considering divesting from commercial rice production. India is one of such countries. Priority may soon leave rice for other crops with higher economic value and better environmental impact. India knows that if it continues its commercial rice farming, in the nearest future it would be hit by acute water shortage, or worse still water scarcity.
Research has shown that rice cultivation and production is a major water consumer. Rice must be planted in areas with body of water. Nigeria consumes about 7million tons of rice annually. To produce just one kilogram of rice, about 2500 liters of water is required. Nigeria rice revolution is targeted majorly in the Northern Nigeria, and that axis is currently witnessing acute desert encroachment, untamed insecurity resulting in lull in economic activities. There is as well the case of diminishing water level in Lake Chad, which has not only fueled insecurity but would sure worsen agro-allied businesses and farming.
2022 would witness protein deficiency among Nigerians, especially children. The rising cost of beef and egg would sure mean that most families may not be able to afford these sources of protein. What next could come as the handiest alternative? Beans! Beans are relatively affordable food that are considered rich in protein, carbohydrate and fibre. But how much has Nigeria Government and by extension the Central Bank of Nigeria invested in beans production. Beans production in Nigeria has received little or no government attention or intervention. This could partly be because beans are not elites’ preferred food. Rice is.
Common sense should have revealed to us that Nigerians need more beans than rice now. This is because there is deficiency of protein among the greater number of Nigerians. From 2022, protein-deficiency among Nigerians may worsen. Most people cannot afford beef, egg and other foods rich in protein because of the skyrocketing cost of these essential foods. To make up for this deficiency, beans can easily come handy.
Nigeria economic policies have perennially favoured the elites. In fact, the elites that make up less than ten percent of Nigeria’s population are mostly put into consideration whenever any policy is to be formulated. Better put, the elites make the laws and initiate policies that favour them. Instead of the Bottom-top approach used in policy formulation in most economically viable countries that run inclusive system, Nigeria policy makers are mostly elites who sit in the comfort of their offices and over feast-like sessions, formulate policies that favour the elites.
There are other factors that may overtime prove that the Central Bank Rice Production Intervention schemes may boomerang and hit us worse than it helps us. One of such factors is the environmental effect of rice production, when matched with the reality of climate change. Another is the absence of data, the manipulation and fraud that have characterized the scheme. But let this be a discussion for another day.
Light Shedrack is a serial entrepreneur, and an SME ideation specialist. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.