大象传媒

Rice prices have surged to their highest levels in almost 12 years, according to the United Nations鈥� food agency.

It comes after India banned exports of non-basmati rice, as the government seeks to keep a cap on soaring food prices at home.

India is the world's biggest exporter of rice, accounting for more than 40% of global shipments. Non-basmati rice is mainly exported to countries in Asia and Africa.

Debisi Araba is a food policy strategist from Kenya. He believes countries like Nigeria have 鈥渢he potential not just to produce enough rice for domestic consumption, but to be a net exporter鈥� so now it鈥檚 high time I think, that the Nigerian government and the private sector included, focuses on increasing productivity and competitiveness of its rice sector.鈥�

(Picture: Shows a variety of rice samples at a wholesale store, in Guwahati, Assam, India on August 2, 2023. Credit: David Talukdar / NurPhoto via Getty Images.)