class=”alignright size-medium wp-image-1064″ />Rice, wheat, and maize are the world’s three leading food crops; together they directly supply more than 42% of all calories consumed by the entire human population. Human consumption in 2009 accounted for 78% of total production for rice, compared with 64% for wheat and 14% for maize. Of these three major crops, rice is by far the most important food crop for people in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Although rice consumption is spread across income classes relatively equally in low-income countries, the poorest people consume relatively little wheat.
However, Rice is the most important food crop of the developing world and the staple food of more than half of the world’s population. Rich in nutrients and vitamins and minerals, it is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates. Nine out of every ten people in the world who eat rice are Asian. In Africa, rice is the fastest growing staple – and it is also growing in popularity in Latin America and the Caribbean
In all honesty, most Nigerians has shown high level of reluctantness on the consumption of local rice. Irrespective of the price that seem a bit cheaper to foreign rice they still prefer foreign rice. A random discussion with rice sellers by our correspondent reveals that few customers requested for local rice as Another rice seller said hardly will you see one out of 10 customers requesting for local rice in my shop. They always want the foreign rice. They rather complain about the poor quality of the local rice. A female rice seller along Folagro Shomolu said Many customers complain of stone particles and the low quality of local rice. I make sales of 10 bags of foreign rice to 4 bags of Nigerian rice due to the quality. Local rice is always second choice in their budget. They feel reluctant and sad when I suggest for them to buy local rice. They are even ready to pay more for the foreign rice,” she said.
Another rice seller called on the Federal Government to lift ban on the importation of rice and allow free flow of the product in the country. He complained that generally, they are not making sales anymore. “Nobody is ready to buy local rice and it is affecting our business. Government should do something on time”
Talking to one of the rice processors he said that the Federal Government should encourage the public to patronize local rice and stop discriminating against it. “We need to change our attitude towards locally made products and appreciate Nigerian made. We are fond of prioritizing anything foreign ahead of our locally made products.
