Nigeria Overtakes Egypt As Largest Rice Producer In Africa

Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as the largest rice producer in Africa, Director-General, Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Dr Harold Roy-Macauley reveals to Thenation.

Roy-Macauley said that Nigeria now produces 4 million tonnes a year. Egypt was producing 4.3 tonnes annually but production has reduced by scrutinizingly 40% this year due to the government’s visualization to limit cultivation to preserve water resources.

Egypt rice cultivation requires well-nigh 1.8 billion metres of water in evaporation, transpiration and irrigation each year. Africa produces an stereotype of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually.

Roy-Macauley noted that there were efforts to increase overall rice production in Africa but expressed doubts that it will prorogue rice importation as population has increased wideness the continent.