ABSTRACT

Nigeria being the leading producer of rice in Africa involving both large-scale farms, and the peasantry, is still unable to meet its consumption demands. Nigeria’s rice production capacity fluctuates between 3-4 million metric tons, and the consumption requirements is about 7.9 million metric tons, with a shortfall of about 3 million metric tons. This means that Nigeria is only capable to supply less than 50 percent of its rice requirements; thereby depending on importing about 3 million metric tons amounting to over 50 percent, to meet local demands. It is for this reason that the government now engaged large scale farms in what it is called “development investment” to boost the agricultural economy. This paper therefore, interrogates the large-scale rice farms in Taraba State, and the massive land deals involved in the production, together with other variables such as labour and the market for such products. The historical methodology was deployed for the study, adopting the thematic approach of data presentation for in-depth analysis, while David Harvey’s theory of accumulation by dispossession provided the theoretical anchorage. Revelation emerged that the acquisition of massive land for agricultural production is largely associated with these farms. Besides, rice farming involved both hired and migrant labour which led to dispossession of land and the surplus thereof, from the peasant. More disturbing is the fact that the shortfalls in supply of rice is yet to be meet. In the end, the study suggests a better approach in the management of the agricultural policy involving large-scale rice farming in order to ensure the rights of the land owners and masses is well protected.