Nigeria’s agriculture authorities last year said the country will achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in 2017.
But investors in the rice production business feel this target may never be met except efforts are redoubled.
This comes as ongoing research to boost rice production genetically continues.
The government notwithstanding remains positive the country will have no need for rice imports soon.
This foreign investor thinks otherwise.
Field trials are still ongoing by scientists on improved species of rice, which are genetically modified.
The scientists carrying out this experiment say it is a way out of Nigeria’s rice production challenges.
The innovation appears to be a quick fix solution to Nigeria’s food sufficiency problem but there are worries by agriculture watchers on the safety of such technology.
The investors on their own part have advised that financial authorities give more funding support to agriculture.
They as well recommend more young population participation in farming.
The ongoing research on genetically modified rice will take about four years, before its final analysis and eventual adaptation.
Its masterminds insist it is what Nigeria really needs to be self-sufficient in rice production.
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