Dr. Hyacinth U. Nwalieji

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension,

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus – Anambra State

nwalieji73@yahoo.com, hu.nwalieji@coou.edu.ng  07033994751

Introduction

Omor is one of the towns in Ayamelum local government area of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.  Omor is made up of four quarters, viz:- Orenja, Akanator, Aturia and Amikwe, in order of seniority with a total of 20 villages. The population of Omor is about two-third of that of the entire Ayamelum. Ayamelum L.G.A has an estimated population of   223,641in 2017 and 233,763, using the state’s growth rate of 3.2% projection of the 2006 census figures of the National Population Commission (NPC) as reported by the Anambra State 2017 Statistical Year Book (SYB).  Following this inference/deduction, Omor is said to have an estimated population of 149,094 in 2017 and 155,842 in 2019, indicating a very high population compared to other towns in Anambra State. The climate of Omor is typically equatorial with two main seasons, the dry and the rainy seasons. The Town experiences dry season from late October to early May and has at least six dry months in the year. Agriculture is the major occupation in Omor, engaging more than 90% of the population.  Crops, livestock and fisheries are main stock in the farming system of Omor Town. Off-farm activities like processing and marketing are also vital components. It has good vegetation, fertile lands for production of varieties of food and cash crops such as rice, maize, yam, cassava, okra, cocoyam, melon, cowpea, pigeon pea and assorted fruits and vegetables.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important staple food for about half of the human race. Nigeria is the largest rice producing country in West Africa, but is also the second largest importer of rice in the World, while Anambra and Ebonyi States are the major rice producers in the southeast Nigeria, in which Anambra is at the top. In Anambra State, Ayamelum LGA is the major rice producing LGA among the 21 LGAs in Anambra State, while Omor Town is the largest rice producer among the 8 towns in Ayamelum LGA; thereby making Omor to be the Rice Food Basket of not only Anambra State but Southeastern Nigeria.

The State of Rice Production in Omor

Rice is the major cereal in Omor in terms of its output and land area; it is the major staple food crop of the people and one of the major primary sources of cash income for farmers and employers of labour. In Omor, rice is produced under upland, swamp and rain-fed lowland, and is dominated by small holder farmers who cultivate average land of two hectares. The cultivable land area for rice production in Omor is estimated to be about 8,500 hectares comprising Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, Omor rice farm land covering 5,000ha (i.e. net irrigable areas of 3,850ha and 1,150ha of non-irrigable/ undeveloped areas); and 3,500ha (from upland, lowland and swampy farm land areas such as Itulu, Abor, Ude, Nke Oyi, Umuereatum, Umuali, Agbaja, Aturia, Orenja, Amikwe, etc. and rice farm lands cultivated by Omor migrant farmers to neighbouring communities/towns such as Anaku, Omasi, Umumbo and Umerum). Also, at least 20%  (770 ha) of the irrigable areas of 3,850ha are currently double cropped by farmers without irrigation as result of early planting at the onset of rain on April/May. This gives an estimate of 9,270 ha of rice cultivated. The average yield of rice farmland in Omor is estimated to 5.0 tonnes/ha of paddy rice and 3.3 tonnes/ha in milled form. Therefore, at least 46,350 metric tonnes of paddy rice and 30,591 metric tonnes of milled rice output are produced and marketed in Omor annually. This is really a huge volume of rice being produced for not only serving as main source for Anambra Rice, but also for feeding the entire southeast, Nigeria.

The potential of investment in rice production in Omor however cannot be overestimated. This is why the general public and government agencies are seriously going into it because it pays and climate is favourable. Rice production enterprise in Omor is regarded as ‘crude oil’ in terms of its profitability and viability. The people of Omor are able to exploit and derive these benefits in rice production due to their determination and capabilities which cut across gender, old and young. They are always ready to adopt recommended technologies/ production practices. For instance, the following rice production practices are currently adopted/in use by the farmers. The major improved rice variety in use is FARO 44 (Sipi 692033). Even the notable variety, IR14/16 has been dropped by the farmers or gradually fizzling out, due to yield potential, adaptability and early maturity compared to FARO 44. Good land preparation using either manual or machinery (tractor) and zero tillage (use of systemic herbicide such as Glyphosate) are still in use. In rice planting, direct seed broadcasting on wet field and upland rice are mainly adopted by the farmers, while random transplanting method is done by few farmers. Fertilizers such as NPK and Urea are being applied intensively and at recommended quantity in lowland rain-fed, irrigated and upland rice by the farmers. Weeding is done both manually and application of herbicides, while insecticides and pesticides are used for controlling insects, pests and diseases. Harvesting is done manually by use of sickles in rice cutting and mechanically by use of threshers in threshing. There are many agro-chemical shops in Omor environs, signifying industrial growth in rice production.

The State of Rice Processing and Marketing in Omor

Rice processing industries in Omor is fast increasing in number owing to the massive production of paddy by the farmers.  There is existence of over 30 rice milling factories/industries in Omor containing about 52 functional milling machines, and reasonable number of destoners.  The following are list of rice milling factories currently situated at Omor: 1. Ayamelum Apex Rice Mill- 2 machines that mill and polish rice with capacity of 1tonne/hour, destoner also available; 2. Nnedimma Cooperative Rice mill- 2 machines that mill and polish rice with capacity of 1tonne/hour, Destoner also available; 3.Joetech Agro Rice Mill- 2 machines that mill and polish rice with capacity of 1tonne/hour, Destoner also available; 4.Udoka Rice Mill- 4 Black Stone machines, Destoner also available; 5. Bon-boy Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 6. Pastor Abakaraka Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 7. James Ndive Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 8. Madam Golden Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 9. ABO Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 10. Ojadi Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 11. Igwe Peter Udemezue Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 12. Okonkwo Nnaemeka Rice Mill- 3 Black Stone machines; 13. Pani Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 14. Udogalanya Chamogu Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 15. Udoji Rice Mill- 4 Black Stone machines; 16. Afuluifekwu Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 17. Mmaneke Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 18. Johnbosco Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 19. Bobo Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 20. Uju Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 21. Nico Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 22. Chieke Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 23. Nwalieji Sugbundu Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 24. Nwabros Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 25. Uwaneke Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 26. Nwafor Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 27. Peter Nweke Rice Mill- 2 Black Stone machines; 28. Pastor Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; 29. Christ Rice Mill- 1 Black Stone machine; and 30. Collinature Rice Farm and Mill Nig Ltd- 1 machine and dryer. Most of the shortlisted rice mill factories have destoning machines situated in the mill. However, rice parboiling is done manually with big drums and sun dried under mat. There are good packaging/bagging and modern bag sealing operation of the milled rice in the area. Marketing of milled rice in Omor is carried out in the various rice milling industries/factories located in different parts of the town, in which traders/marketers from urban areas come and buy to their satisfaction and capability. The sale of milled rice is measured in bushel (25kg) and bagged in either 25kg or 50kg bags.

Government and Donor Agencies Intervention Progrmmes, Policies and Projects on Rice Production in Omor

Omor has witnessed various efforts that have been made to improve rice production in Nigeria by Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with Foreign Agencies or private sectors which came up with different agricultural projects, policies and programmes. Some of these rice projects, policies, programmes and schemes include the establishment of the following:

1. Lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority in 1978 that ushered in the implementation of the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP), Omor covering 5,000 hectares which took off in 1981. The objectives of the project were to: increase rice yield; have double cropping in a year through irrigation; teach farmers modern rice production techniques; improve the standard of living of the communities within the project location; and train the staff and farmers both locally and overseas. Although, the project made some appreciable impact on the socio-economic life of the people within and outside Omor community, it had series of challenges that brought it to this present deplorable condition.

2. The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprises in Targeted Sites (MARKETS) rice project. It is one of the current policy initiatives which aims at prioritizing the rice sector and decreasing dependence from international imports, fostering production and supplying agricultural inputs. The project was initiated in June 2005 and ended in December 2010. The rice project covered only four states for rice commodity value chain. These include Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi and Kwara. The MARKETS’ core strategy to develop rice sub-sector is to encourage competitiveness along the value chain, by strengthening identified markets and encourage the use of commercially-led technologies. It had a mandate to work along the entire rice value chain in order to improve on- farm productivity and sales and income. It provided technical assistance, training, and access to production technology through small farmer/producer associations. The project however made some impact in Omor before it fizzled out.

3. Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme of 2012 was initiated by the Federal and State Governments under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) for the provision of subsidized inputs to farmers in Nigeria. The GES is aimed at delivering subsidized farm inputs to farmers and facilitating a shift from subsistence to commercial farming. Under the scheme, registered farmers receive e-wallet vouchers with which they can redeem fertilizer and seeds from agro-input dealers. It was reported that rice farmers had high level of satisfaction on the scheme’s implementation, however challenges abound.

4. National Fadama Development Projects I, II, III and Fadama III- Additional Financing (AF) project. Fadama I was implemented during the 1993-1999 periods and it focused mainly on crop production, downstream activities such as processing and preservation while marketing was largely neglected. Fadama II was targeted at dry season farming, agro-processing, preservation and marketing. It also allowed for acquisition of productive assets, provision of rural infrastructure to ensure the efficient transportation of farm output to markets as well as marketing activities. Fadama III project was designed to focus on increasing the incomes of rural poor, the project was to help reduce rural poverty, increase food security and contribute to the achievement of a key Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Fadama III Additional Financing (AF) Project in Anambra covers both rice and cassava value chains. The objective of the AF is to increase the incomes for users of rural lands and water resources within the Fadama Areas in sustainable manner throughout the recipient’s territory. The AF is still on-going and said to have made some achievements, however challenges abound.

5. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) initiated in 2014 to enhance the productivity and profitability of smallholder producers, processors and marketers in the crops’ (especially rice and cassava) value chain. Government targets to achieve this objective by increasing access of the actors in the rice and cassava value chain to improved inputs, modern technologies, machines and equipment, road, irrigation, water, processing and marketing infrastructure, and finance.   The primary target groups are; (i) poor rural household engaged in the cassava and rice value chain (VCs) who cultivate not more than 5 hectares of land under rice/cassava); and (ii) small-scale processors (processing capacity of an average of 2MT/day for cassava and 4MT/day for rice)  and traders, with emphasis on women and youth. The programme is on-going and it is doing well by achieving most of the objectives.

6. Anambra State Government intervention. The Anambra State Government especially this present administration of His Excellency, Dr. Willie Obiano has been trying its best in giving adequate supports to farmers in Anambra State. For instance most of the above projects and programmes were able to exist and function well in Anambra State due to maximum supports such as logistic support and prompt payment of both Local government and State counterpart funds by the State Governor.  Also Anambra rice is on course. In Omor, the Anambra State Government established modern rice mill through VCDP and there was also a move to resuscitate the 10,000M/T per Annum Giant Rice Mill at Umumbo by the Anambra State Government. In addition, many rice farmers in Omor Community have benefited immensely from the State Government in form of grants, incentives, low interest rate loan, inputs and adequate participation in most of the intervention programmes and projects to boost rice production.

7. Other intervention programmes include Rice Box (R-Box) package programme, Agro N-Power, The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise (LIFE), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), e.t.c.

Challenges of Rice Production, Processing and Marketing in Omor

There are many challenges/factors/problems/constraints that militate against quantity and quality rice production in Omor community. For instance, rice farmers are yet to produce an expected rice quantity of 6 to 8 tonnes/ha of paddy rice in the area or not able to produce enough rice to feed the populace; and rice processors are unable to produce quality milled rice to match or compete with the imported or foreign rice; and also the majority of rice farmers are unable to increase income and raise their standard of living. The identified major challenges include the following: 

1. Inadequate fund for start-off and poor access to credit. Rice production is capital intensive, right from planting to processing operations. The poor farmers even found it difficult to obtain credit/loan at low interest rate; hence they depend on local money lenders that give not less than 100% interest, which at end they will not break even. Farmers need enough funds to start-off and give adequate maintenance of farm holdings in order to increase production. However, farmers need loans to invest in quality inputs; they need access to inputs, and often require training to increase production and meet quality standards.

2. High cost of rice production. The operating input and labour costs of rice production in Omor are very high. For instance, one bag of fertilizer was sold at N10,000 this year and the same high cost applies to other  inputs, including land acquisition; labour aspect is also on the higher side. The estimated cost of producing quality standard rice in one hectare (from land acquisition and cultivation to harvest, excluding processing) is about N240,000.

3. Lack of improved processing and milling machinery. There is still non availability of complete set of rice milling machine/factory in Omor. The improved one installed by the VCDP and few other ones are yet to resume full operations. The worst is that parboiling is still done manually and sun dried on mats; there is no parboilers and dryers that can maintain and regulate the heating temperature of rice that will control breakages and assured grade A polished rice that can compete with foreign rice.

4. Poor road network/feeder road.  The roads in Omor and Ayamelum as a whole are too bad and worrisome to mention. The marketers find it difficult to evacuate produce from Omor to urban centres along the major or so called federal road from Onitsha to Omor. The more deplorable condition of roads abounds in the rice fields. The farmers are really suffering; they found it very difficult to convey/ transport rice produce, agro-inputs and other materials. The roads are in a mess; they are too bad and full of drudgery in terms of transportation of goods and people.

5. Unfavourable weather condition/climate change.  Rice needs water and sunshine at varying quantity/rate and intensity during the planting and growing stages of rice for maximum yield/production. And this calls for good management practices which are unrealizable since rice production in the area depends solely on rain-fed which is natural and unpredictable due to non existence of weather forecasters in the area. There is no functional irrigation facility ever since the collapse of Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP), Omor. Seasonal flooding is witnessed in some parts of rice land in Omor and this poses some challenges. Also, farmers who planted early incurred greater loses during rice harvesting and processing operations done at the peak of rainfall since there are no dryers.

6. Price fluctuation of produce. Rice is one of the produce/commodities that have no stable price; the price changes very often and one can easily make huge gain or loss. The constituting factors include quality of rice produced, rice glut, number of marketers, storage facilities, cost of foreign rice, government policy on rice importation and border closure among others.

7. Inadequate and untimely supply/distribution of agro-inputs to farmers. Rice production is very sensitive to input application requirements in order to yield optimally. Give it what it requires at right time and dosage; it will give you what you expect. However, the majority of the government intervention programmes and projects on rice production initiated accorded highest priority to input and credit facility provision to farmers but unfortunately, famers are not provided with adequate number of inputs and there are always late arrival of the ones provided.

8. Other challenges include high cost of farm implements, poor extension services, poor access to agro-information, etc.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Conclusion

Omor community as a rice food basket of not only Anambra State but also southeast Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.  Omor rice is by far much better than imported rice in terms of palatability, quality and yield. However, if the identified challenges are adequately addressed, Omor rice farmers can produce the expected 8tonnes per hectare, and cultivate rice 3 times in a year through irrigation; and as well can process and produce quality milled and polished rice that can beat any imported rice thereby guaranteeing rice food security in South Eastern Nigeria.

Recommendations

Based on the above observations, the following recommendations are made.

1. Since poor access to credit was one of the prominent constraints to rice production, bearing in mind that rice production is capital and labour intensive enterprise and requires cash to undertake most of the farming operations, there should be increase in access to credit by these farmers. To achieve this, governments should come up with policy that would provide farmer friendly credit to rice producers in order to reduce or minimize the difficulties encountered in accessing the credit by farmers. The credit should be timely to enable the farmers make adequate use of it in the farming operations.

2. There is the need for government through intervention projects and programmes, provide various rice farmers’ groups with improved parboiling tanks and low capacity complete set of rice milling machines at subsidized rate. There should be provision of functional dryers in every quarters of the town to enable farmers dry the parboiled rice easily during the rainy season harvest. Also the state government should complete the move in rehabilitation and resuscitation of the moribund Giant Rice Mill at Umumbo to enable farmers process their produce with ease and realization of quality rice that will compete with foreign rice.

3. The State and Local governments should as a matter of urgency intensify action on road construction and maintenance in Omor and Ayamelum as a whole in order to arrest the ugly situation.  This will be of immense help to farmers and marketers in easy transportation of rice produce and products in designated destinations. Also farmers should assist in the maintenance of roads within their capabilities and also desist from any act or practice that causes more road damages.

4. There is need to provide the farmers with functional irrigation facilities to enable them embark on double or triple cropping in a year for maximum rice production all year round. This will take control or minimize the effect of unfavourable weather condition/climate change.  This could be achieved by government resuscitation of the irrigation facilities in the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP), Omor.

5. There should be timely (before the farming season kicks off) and adequate supply of agro-inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, etc. at about 25-75% subsidized rate by the service providers of government intervention programmes and projects on rice production. This would discourage farmers from relying on high cost of privately sold agro-input such as fertilizers.