LAGOS, NIGERIA'S BIGGEST MARKET FOR RICE WITH CONSUMPTION OF 1 MILLION METRIC TONS

The Lagos state government in its bid to scale up its food self- sufficiency from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, has committed to work with investors towards giving and assisting those engaged in rice farming support as a strategic and profitable venture.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Basorun stated this at the opening of 2015 Lagos Rice Fair, at the weekend, organized by Growth and Employment in the States (GEMS) in Agidingbi, Ikeja.
Currently Lagos state consumes 1 million metric tons of rice yearly against the 2 million metric tons imported into the country yearly.Speaking further, he said that as part of efforts at developing the rice value chain in Lagos, the government has made available additional 1,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation in the state over the last four years adding that an integrated Rice mill was constructed and commissioned in Imota, Ikorodu in 2012 for processing of rice cultivated in the State and its environs, stressing that Rice from the mill with the brand “Eko Rice” is already being sold to residents.