Tunji Akande Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), PMB 05, UIPO

1. Integrated Assessment of the Impact of Trade Liberalization on the Rice Sector of Nigeria: A Synopsis of Findings Tunji Akande Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), PMB 05, UIPO Ibadan. Nigeria. stunjiakande@yahoo.com

2. Brief description of the project • Study attempted Economic, Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of rice production in Nigeria within trade liberalization framework • Institution directly involved is NISER assisted by steering committee/stakeholders as follows: Ministries of Environment and Agriculture University of Agriculture Rice farmers apex association Africa Rice Centre (WARDA) and IITA Research institutes – NCRI and IAR&T Rice processors; traders; consumers.

3. The Nigerian rice sector • Land area under rice – c. 2.5M ha. • Production – 3 – 3.5 M tons • Demand – 5 M tons • Imports – 1 M tons • Area expansion – 10% per annum Nigeria’s goal – self-sufficiency (2006); net exporter (2007) Challenge? Increased production that promotes: economic gain; social well-being of citizens; sanctity/integrity of environment; and sustainable development

4. Main impacts identified by integrated assessment Positive impact: • Income generation • Employment • Poverty reduction • Improved nutrition • Reduction of imports • Increased commercialisation • Improved production practices Negative impact: • Environmental degradation – soil mining; air and water pollution; deforestation; loss of biodiversity • Health problems • Gender differentiation

5. Main lessons learned • Participatory process is important for development initiative • Rice has penetrated deep into the Nigerian food economy • Rice is significant for trade, production diversification issues in Nigeria

6. Main recommendations from project • Land use planning needed for rice • Improve production practices to raise productivity • Efficient processing to improve quality of local rice • Set quality standards to meet consumer preference • Judicious use of tariff to facilitate healthy competition between imported and local rice • Environment management to control negative impact

7. Activities undertaken to implement recommendations • Dissemination at stakeholders workshop • Wide distribution of report • Establishment of implementation group • Strategic memorandum on findings and implementation prepared for government

8. Main achievements of project • Raised awareness on environmental implications of an expansive rice programme • Created a forum for stakeholders to take decisions for mutual interest • Developed capacity for integrated assessment as against isolated sectoral analysis • Organic farming identified as a viable option

9. Challenges faced for follow-up • Securing the support of policy makers for implementation • Organising a meeting of implementation committee established • Seed money required to initiate implementation lacking • Developing fundable programmes for implementing the findings

10. What is needed to move ahead • Provision of seed money to initiate implementation • Securing explicit support of FME and FMA • Ascertain additional support that UNEP can provide

11. Thank you • Merci!