ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract
Nigeria is the leading rice producer in Africa, but still relies on import to satisfy local demand. This is particularly the case where current statistics shows that rice demand in the country stands at ten thousand metric tons, against seven thousand metric tons the country currently produces. Taraba State which is one of the leading producers of rice in the country, still falls short of demand within the state. Although several studies have examined rice production in Nigeria, limited historical scholarship has analysed how agronomic practices, market structures, and institutional arrangements interact to shape food security outcomes in Taraba State over the long term. Hence, the study focused on interrogating the rice production system or the agronomic practices accountable for rice output, and the marketing value chains responsible for value allocation. The study engaged qualitative approach, and was anchored on Marx’s theory of primitive accumulation. The findings demonstrates that weak extension systems, limited mechanisation, poor rural infrastructure, fragmented markets and unequal value capture jointly constrain rice productivity and undermine food security. The market system is also confronted with issues relating to basic infrastructures such as road, warehouses, and transport system leading to the deprivation of farmers from surpluses thereof. Thus, the state government need to midwife these processes and practices to ensure bumper harvest, and food sovereignty.
Keywords: Rice, Food Security, Production, Marketing, Value Chains, Mechanisation