Prospects and Challenges of Sustainable Rice Production in Igbemo Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

This is a historical survey research with focus on the sustainability of indigenous rice production in Igbemo Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria. Igbemo Ekiti is predominantly an agrarian community known for the production of large quantity of indigenous rice popularly called Igbemo rice. This local rice was available in most major markets in Nigeria up till the 1980s. However, many farmers previously engaged in the planting of Igbemo rice have abandoned it for other businesses because of the challenges confronting the indigenous rice industry. The lands used for cultivating Igbemo rice have been deployed to the cultivation of other crops. Imported polished rice has since overtaken the place of Igbemo rice in the market. The rice business is indeed on the verge of extinction in the town. Consequently, this paper examines the origin, growth and decline of Igbemo rice Industry. It documents the numerous challenges confronting local rice production in the areas of cultivation, harvesting, processing and marketing of Igbemo rice. The paper concludes that Igbemo rice industry has great potentials for sustenance and expansion if advanced technology is deployed and stakeholders in the industry are given adequate incentives by Government. The method adopted for the study is basically historical, involving the use of both primary and secondary source materials. One hundred and fifty (150) informants were purposively selected and interviewed using unstructured questions. This was complemented by visitation to rice farm sites, rice drying locations, various rice mills and rice marketing centres in Igbemo Ekiti between 2014 and 2017.