The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) yesterday said the country was on its way to acheiving self-sufficiency in rice production.

Its Chairman,  Dr. Nike Akande,  who spoke to reporters ahead the fourth Nigeria Rice Investment Forum slated for this month in Abuja, said the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari have started yielding fruits and the nation is on its way to self-sufficiency in rice production as projected by this administration.

The theme and sub-themes for the forum are: “Consolidating the Gains in the Nigeria Rice Sector (Production and Processing)” and “Effective Linkage of Actors and Efforts in the Nigeria Rice Value Chain for a Sustained Self-Sufficiency in Production” respectively

The chairperson said in order to sustain the tempo, there is need to consolidate the gains so far in the sector. She said this would entail general review and evaluation of efforts in the entire rice value chain in terms of policies, direct and indirect interventions.

Calling for the diversification of the nation’s economy, she made a case on the need for self-sufficiency in rice production.

According to her the Rice Investment Forum will bring together all actors in the nation rice sub-sector to further consolidate the gains recorded in the last decade as well sustaining the tempo in the next decade and more.