‘Believe it or not, a 50kg bag of rice will sell for N1,000’

By Seye Adeniyi

Mr. Remilekun Peter, Project
Consultant, Nigeria-China
Irrigation Farming Scheme

“NOW that many state governments in the coun try have signified their intentions to adopt, participate and implement the Integrated Agricultural Water Irrigation Programmes in Nigeria, a project that has been described by many experts as a poverty-reducing programmes that would also ensures abundance food supply, then very soon, the prices of many essential and staple foods like rice will come down.

In fact, a 50-kilogramme bag of rice will soon be sold for N1,000 if we pay serious attention to agriculture and Nigerian government shows sincere commitment to the project. Although it may sound like a prediction, but it is not a prediction, in the real sense of it, neither is it a prophecy, but an affirmative statement that can be confirmed in some developed nations of the world. I have travelled far and near and have gained a lot of experiences on how to revolutionise the agricultural sector of the country and make it a major source of income for the country, rather than depending solely on the down-stream sector. If China, USA can do it, I believe Nigeria can also do it, so people should be ready to go to markets with little money to buy many things, especially food stuffs.

The Project Consultant of the Integrated Nigeria – China Irrigation Farming Scheme and the coordinator of the worldmaden, P. D. Co. Ltd., Nigeria, Mr. Bello Oluwaremilekun Peter, popularly known as RemPeters, gave these words of assurance during an interview with Tribune Agriculture.

He said his declaration was not an empty statement, but his confidence on abundance food supply and low prices of foods items which the country would soon experience with the about-to-start Agricultural Water Irrigation Farms Project in many states of the federation was hinged on the fact that this would guarantee abundance food production for both local consumption and export purposes since agricultural crops will be planted and harvested two times in a year like the way it is being done presently in China.

On the aims and objectives of this project in the country, he said the country would be able to export harvested produce to other countries of the world apart from being able to store for future needs. It would also enhance economic development, eradicate food scarcity and force down prices of many foodstuffs.

Below are responses of Mr. RemPeters to other salient questions put to him on the commencement of the Nigeria-China Irrigation Farming Scheme in the country.

You seems to be too confident that this project would bring about speedy agricultural development in the country and also guarantee abundant food production. What gives you this assurance and where did you get this feelings?
You need to visit China and other nations and see how this particular scheme or programme has placed those countries especially China on a special position on the world agricultural map. Then you would know that if China can do it and feed not only their citizens comfortably, but is also sending foods to other nations of the world, then you will agree with me that Nigeria that has abundant God-given natural resources can do likewise if not more than China.

With all your efforts at making the project a well accepted programme in many states of the federation, can you enumerate how many states governments you have consulted and briefed about the project and how many of them have shown interest?
Since it is going to be a joint collaboration with the Nigerian and Chinese government, I can tell you that there have been remarkable reports about it and many states of the federation like Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Edo, Borno, Enugu, Kwara, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau, to mention a few, have signified their intentions to be part of the project.

In fact, many agricultural research institutes like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have also shown interest especially in the area of boosting cassava production. So you can see that if it is going to be a failure, nobody, especially a reputable research institutes like the IITA, would like to be associated with it.

Not only that, many banks and financial institutions like First Bank, as well as many non-government organisations are going to be part of it.

What is going to be the contribution of the Chinese government?
They are to assist, support and facilitate in the area of implementation of the project. Apart from the fact that selected Nigerians will be going to China for training, some Chinese companies are going to be involved. For instance, a company known as Shanghai Machinery Import and Export Corporation would supply agricultural equipment. Also, another China-based company known as the Shangai WorldBest Kama Import and Export Corporation would do the same, likewise Shandong Juling Nig. Ltd, Lagos, is to supply certain agricultural and irrigation equipment to make it a huge success.

Not only that, several NGOs, banks, as well as farmers cooperative unions and societies have signified the interests to be part of the project.

Does that mean you are not going to allow participation, cooperation and support of other agricultural research institutes in the country?
Why not? They are all welcome. For example, research institutes like the National Horticultural Research Institutes, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State is going to be part of it in the area of vegetables production, just like the IITA.
You said agricultural crops would be planted twice a year. Can you mention some of the crops that the project is going to focus on?

The crops are rice, wheat, maize, soybean, sorghum, cowpeas, groundnut, cassava and vegetables. If the country can be able to plant these crops twice a year and reap bountiful harvest with the help of irrigation system, do you think we would be talking of high food prices or food scarcity? Don’t you know that this is another way of boosting the non-oil economic sector of the country? I’m still emphasising it, very soon, rice will be sold for a maximum of N1,000 per 50kg of bag. It is not only a prophecy, it is a statement that is bound to happen in Nigeria by the grace of God through the Agricultural Water Irrigation Farm Project.

In terms of training, how would Nigerian farmers benefit from the China experience?
Ninety-one Nigerians will be going to China in April for training. The breakdown is like this: Twenty-five civil servants from each state of the federation and this comprises five-man civil servants from each state ministries of agriculture, five staff each from the ministries of establishment, lands and survey, water resources and environment as well as from ministries of local government. Every agricultural officer from each local government of each state would also take part in the training programme in China. The remaining participants would be selected by us.

One thing is to have bountiful harvest, another thing is to have good storage facilities for harvested produce. What are you doing to prevent crop wastages because it is a major problem in Nigeria?
Each state would have six storage facilities of both small and large scale food crops of international standard. There would also be modern processing factories that would take care of seed cleaning, treatment-line from unloading of materials, drying, cleaning, storage conveying to loading, bagging and sealing. You can see that with this project, Nigeria is going to feed many countries of the world.