Nigerian committee proposes surcharge on rice imports.

(From Panafrican News Agency (PANA) Daily Newswire)

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - A Nigerian presidential committee on rice production has recommended a 10 percent surcharge on rice imports to finance the country's rice production programme. In a communique issued in Abuja at the weekend, the committee also suggested that the government should support rice farmers by paying them competitive producer prices and buying excess rice for storage. The committee said that the money to be raised from the 10 percent surcharge would also be used to encourage rice exportation and rehabilitation of irrigation projects. The committee identified constraints to local rice …