Rice farming in Nigeria is a profitable enterprise as a result of is without doubt one of the hottest meals and acceptable in each a part of the nation. In Nigeria, rice consumption has been massively growing over time due to the ever growing inhabitants. It’s consumed in each a part of the nation and it’s both ready as white rice, coconut rice, fried rice, jollof rice, or processed into the standard dish Pate. Rice is cooked majorly by boiling and it may be floor into flour. It’s eaten alone and in an ideal number of soups, facet dishes, and as essential dishes. It may very well be processed into different merchandise like breakfast noodles, cereals and alcoholic drinks.
Rice farming in Nigeria is frequent within the northern a part of the nation however the main rice producing States in Nigeria are Kano State, Gombe State, Niger State, Kebbi State, Ebonyi State, Anambra State, Nasarawa State, and Ogun State. Rice is cereal crop that’s cultivated on land that’s waterlogged. The quantity of water ranges from 5 to 50 cm.
Rice will be labeled by way of their colour from brown to white because it has implication on their dietary standing. Brown rice has extra dietary content material than white rice as a result of they’re much less processed they usually retain extra dietary worth within the type of fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. It will also be labeled into totally different varieties by way of dimension that are lengthy grain, medium grain, brief grain, candy, fragrant, Arborio.
Rice, Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or (African rice) is without doubt one of the world’s most vital cereals, being the staple meals for over 50% of the world inhabitants (Ogundele & Okoruwa, 2006; Samarendu, 2013). Rice is indispensable within the technique for meals safety in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as a result of it supplies 27% of the vitality and 20% of protein wants in creating international locations, together with African international locations (Seck, 2007; Tollens, 2007). In Nigeria, per capita consumption of rice within the 1980’s is put at 18kg (Akpokodje, Lancon & Erenstein, 2001) and reached 22kg between 1995 and 2000 (Ogundele & Okoruwa, 2006). In 2005, common per capita consumption was between 24-28kg and represents 9% of whole caloric consumption every year (Ochigbo, 2011).
In Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa is the main producer and client of rice and accounts for 64.2% and 61.9% of whole manufacturing and consumption, respectively (Longtau, 2003). Nigeria is without doubt one of the largest producers and a number one client of rice in West Africa. (AfricaRice), 2005. In 2008, Nigeria accounted for 48% of the entire rice output in West Africa, United States Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID), 2009). United States Division of Agriculture/International Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS, 2007) stories additionally that Sub-Saharan Africa (in quantity phrases) is the most important importing area on the planet, with common annual imports in extra of seven.4 million metric tons. In Nigeria, whole consumption of rice stands at about 5.4 million metric tonnes yearly whereas output is about 3.8 million tons Worldwide Fertilizer Growth Middle (IFDC), 2008). The deficit in manufacturing is made up by large importation of milled rice to bridge the hole between home demand and provide. Nigeria’s rice processing capability is 2.8 million tons of paddy yearly Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA), 2013). Nigeria is without doubt one of the world’s main importers of rice (Akinbile, 2010). In 2011/2012 estimates, Nigeria was the most important importer of rice on the planet, accounting for about 3.4 million metric tons (USDA/FAS, 2014).
Rice grows throughout all agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Nigeria (African Rice Centre (Africa Rice), 2011). Longtau (2003) labeled six rice-growing environments (RGEs) in Nigeria as; Upland, Hydromorphic, Rain-fed lowland, irrigated lowland, deep inland water, and Mangrove swamps. Farmers undertake a selected rice manufacturing system based mostly on the topography, enter, anticipated output and returns. Nevertheless, progress in rice manufacturing in SSA has been as a result of an growth of the world underneath cultivation reasonably than to a rise in yield (Stryker, 2010). Imolehin and Wada (2000) put potential hectares of rice manufacturing at 4.6 – 4.9 million ha and precise manufacturing at 1.7 million ha. The distinction between potential and precise yields may be very excessive. Nevertheless, there may be conflicting data on common yields from totally different sources. (Africa Rice. 2011), stories that in 2008 Nigeria had a rise in rice manufacturing of 31.2% over 2007 figures.
RICE PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA
Rice manufacturing in Nigeria is essentially produced by peasant farmers that produce rice primarily for his or her consumption and have little or none left for gross sales. The rice produced by the peasant farmers is most occasions not correctly processed. It’s because most farmers produce rice for his or her private consumption. Regardless of that, Nigeria is the very best rice producing nation in West Africa of round 3million tons every year but in addition the very best rice importing nation globally.
On this case, the proportion of business farmers may be very small however because of the ever growing inhabitants, normal acceptance and growing consumption fee, rice manufacturing in Nigeria has been drastically enhanced. That may be a enormous assurance of the profitability of rice farming in Nigeria.
Usually brief length varieties take 100−120 days, medium length 120−140 days, and lengthy length 160 days or extra. Nevertheless, most varieties take 60−65 days from panicle initiation to reap.
HOW TO PLANT RICE
Firstly, it will be significant you get a superb high quality of seed of the specified you could get your anticipated and fascinating consequence; it’s because no quantity land preparation or fertilizer software could make a nasty seed good.
*Cropping calendar is the primary stage in planting rice
* Additionally know the Items (the precise dimension of land) this can improve correct planning
Select a planting website
Clay or clay loamy soils are most suited to rice cultivation as a result of soils with good water retention capability with excessive quantity of clay and natural matter are perfect for rice cultivation.
• Varieties to be planted (appropriate selection on your kind of land and climate)
it will be significant you get a superb high quality of seed of the specified you could get your anticipated and fascinating consequence; it’s because no quantity land preparation or fertilizer software could make a nasty seed good
Land preparation
Moist the land space; this may be achieved by irrigation of by rainfall. This to melt the soil and likewise stop undesirable weeds from rising.
Plough the land; the aim of ploughing the land is to melt the earth in order that there will be correct root penetration of the soil for correct uptake of nutrient.
Harrowing; that is breaking the bowl of the earth shaped up throughout ploughing. It’s performed to smoothen the soil. This may be performed twice to realize a greater consequence.
Degree the land; the aim of that is to realize correct distribution of water in all a part of the sphere. It needs to be performed by a leveler.
• Preparation of seeds (seed priming)
Planting Operations.
Planting will be performed in two methods
i. Transplanting pre grown seedlings in seedbeds (Nursery Operation)
ii. Direct seeding. This includes pregermination of the seeds i.e. full submersion of seed inside water for 24hours then incubates the seeds for an additional 24hours. (germination take a look at)
Drain the sphere; this needs to be performed type 0-9 days after sowing for good seed emergence.
• Institution of bund and canal
• Put together the seeds
• Set up nursery
• Nursery operation
• Tillering of land
• Water administration
• Leveling
• Fertilizer software (NPK)
Transplanting (hole filling)
Preserve round 2-3cm water depth to stop soil hardening and help seedling pulling. Then uprooting of seedlings needs to be performed by holding the seedling near the basis after which pull in direction of oneself. The transplanting will be performed manually and mechanically with seed spacing 20x20cm within the row and depth of 2-3cm.
Fertilizer Utility
Broadcast fertilizer evenly on the sphere to be able to provide the nutrient wanted by the rice to outlive early stage of progress.
Be aware; Prime dressing is finished between 35-55 days after planting. It supplies Nitrogen, Potassium, Sulphur, Calcium and Chlorine.
Weed administration
Weed will be managed by spraying herbicides. Spraying will also be performed earlier than plant to stop the emergence of weed.
Preserve round 2-3cm water depth all through the planting interval to stop weed germination.
• Urea Utility
• Safety in opposition to chicken assault
• Rouging off or harvesting off sorts.
WHEN TO HARVEST RICE?
Harvest needs to be performed when 80-85% p.c of the grains (rice vegetation) have turned golden yellow color to keep away from shattering. It may very well be performed manually by utilizing sickle or mechanically utilizing harvesters. Thresh instantly after harvest to keep away from post-harvest losses.
• Harvesting and drying
• Threshing
• Winnowing
• Drying
In conclusion rice farming in Nigeria remains to be a gold catch and a booming enterprise. Evaluate to perishable crops, rice has a really low file of post-harvest losses however business farmers and correct processing services needs to be inspired the extra to be able to improve domestically produced rice that meet the worldwide customary present extra jobs and finally cater for the rising inhabitants.
