Bill to establish Rice Development Council scales second reading in Senate

The Senate on Wednesday passed through second reading a bill seeking to establish the National Rice Development Council to reposition the sub-sector in the agriculture value chain.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to establish the National Rice Development Council of Nigeria to provide guidance on rice research, comprehensive development of the rice sector, and the organisation of rice stakeholders to enhance local production of rice in Nigeria and for related matters,” aims to coordinate activities among rice farmers, processors, millers, researchers, and marketers to optimise the entire rice value chain.”

Recall that the bill, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central), was initially passed by the 9th Senate and forwarded to the then President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2023. It, however, did not get presidential assent, leading to its reintroduction in the 10th Assembly.

Leading the debate on the general principle of the bill, Aliero said, “The National Rice Development Council Bill seeks to establish a platform that would lead to a comprehensive development of the rice sector and the organisation of rice stakeholders to enhance local production of rice in Nigeria.”

He made a case for a central coordination of the rice sector, given the legion of associations churning out different policies on the best way to get the most out of the staple crop.

Aliero listed the associations to include the Paddy Rice Dealers Association of Nigeria, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, Rice Millers of Nigeria, Women Farmers Advancement Network, Ofada Rice Producers, Abakaliki Rice Producers Association, and Women in Rice Platform.

“This bill, therefore, seeks to establish that rallying point and a comprehensive national operational and governance structure for a complete rice value chain process in the country,” he added.