Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said Nigeria would have long achieved self-sufficiency in rice production and consumption if the administration of President Alh. Shehu Shagari had not scuttled local production with his rice importation policy.
Obasanjo recalled that Nigeria was on the verge of self-sufficiency in rice production in 1979 prior to leaving office as a military Head of States, but said due to inconsistency in policy, the civilian administration led by Shagari, threw the door open for rice importation.
The Ota farmer who spoke as chief launcher during the unveiling of Okun Rice, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, Ogun State, added that rather set up a committee on local production of rice, Shagari set up on for rice importation.
Okun Rice is produced by Hyst Global Business Limited, owned by Mr. Biodun Onalaja.
He lamented that this shift in policy focus from his agricultural revolution, was the disincentive that dampened the spirit of local farmers and in no time, many of them gave up rice cultivation as bags of imported rice began to arrive.
Obasanjo lauded Onalaja for rekindling the hope of Nigeria in achieving self-sufficiency in rice production and ensuring food security for the nation.
“One of our problems in this country is inconsistency in policy. In 1979, we were getting to a place where we would be self-sufficient in rice production, but then a new administration came and set up a Presidential Committee on rice importation instead of a Presidential Committee on Exportation of rice.
“In no time, when the imported rice started a arriving, those farmers who were cultivating rice gave up.
“Today I commend Hyst Global Business Limited and the chairman, Mr. Biodun Onalaja, for his doggedness, persistence, and stubbornness. It is not easy to succeed here as a farmer. But I want to say Onalaja is a success story, because despite the odds he never gave up,” he said.
According to him, if the nation has just 100 of Onalajas there would not only be self-reliant in rice production, but also become exporters.
Obasanjo appealed to commercial banks to offer soft loans to farmers at a single digit interest rate, arguing that no farmer could break even on two digits interest rate.