Rice: Agriculture Graduates Urge Federal Government to Subsidise Farmers

Husseini Ilyasu, chief executive of the Agricultural Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN), urged the Federal Government to subsidise farm inputs to lower production costs and strengthen food security. Speaking at a training programme in Bida, Niger State, for 20 women’s cooperative groups, he called for better local rice processing, including improved parboiling and colour sorting, to compete with imports. Organised by Hello Tractor, AGAN and the government- and IFAD-assisted VCDP, the programme introduced rice-husk fuel alternatives and steam-based parboiling methods. Ilyasu also called for stronger coordination among seed producers, farmers, processors and consumers to align rice production with market needs.