FG enters agreement with Benin Republic to end rice importation

The federal government and the Republic of Benin have entered an agreement to end the importation of rice across West African countries.

This agreement was announced at the end of a meeting between a delegation from Benin, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria,RIFAN and the chief of staff to the president, Ibrahim Gambari,  in Abuja yesterday.
The meeting was to solidify the agreements and tap from Nigeria’s experience in reviving rice production.

Representatives of RIFAN recently visited Cotonou, Benin capital, to sign a memorandum of understanding on how the association will help the country boost its local rice production.

Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, explained that the meeting was to advance ongoing talks between the two countries on how to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming programme in the Benin Republic.