Abakaliki Rice is a type of rice cultivated predominantly in Ebonyi State, located in South Eastern Nigeria. Named after Abakaliki town, the State's capital, the term refers to all rice grown and cultivated within the 13 local government areas of the state. [1]
Known for its unique flavour and high dietary fibre content, Abakaliki rice is used in a wide range of dishes. [2] The region's warm climate allows for at least two cultivation cycles annually, contributing to its fast growth rate compared to varieties grown in other regions. [3]
Rice farming in Abakaliki accounts for more than 50 per cent of agricultural activities in Ebonyi State, with an estimated annual production of 134,000 metric tonnes. [4]
The Abakaliki rice mill, a major processing hub, operates 4,500 milling machines, 50 destoning centres, and 10 polishing machines, employing approximately 1,850 workers directly and indirectly. [5]
The cultivation of Abakaliki rice dates back to 1940 during Nigeria's colonial era. Faced with global food shortages during World War II, the British colonial government sought to boost local food production. Following a Department of Agriculture meeting in Umuahia, Abakaliki, Afikpo, and Ohaozara were identified as suitable areas for rice cultivation due to their swampy soils. [6]
Before the introduction of rice to the Abakaliki area, the people were mostly subsistence farmers whose major crops included staples such as yam, cassava, potato, cocoyam, etc. [7] Therefore, local farmers initially resisted rice farming due to cultural and religious beliefs. For instance, some Izzi-speaking farmers feared that replacing traditional yam crops might anger ancestral deities. Similarly, Ezza farmers attributed poor yam harvests in the 1950s to the introduction of rice. However, external settlers leased land for rice farming and introduced improved techniques, eventually winning over local farmers. By 1945, rice farming in Abakaliki began to expand, with the colonial government increasing cultivation from 600 acres in 1940 to 18,000 acres by 1954. [8]
Abakaliki farmers eventually embraced rice cultivation as they realized that rice was easier to cultivate and matured faster compared to yam and cassava. It was also more profitable. The abundant rainfall of about 1500mm annually in the Abakaliki area, which enabled rice to be grown in fairly level, clay soil without artificial irrigation, also enhanced its appeal to the farmers. [9]
The colonial government drove rice cultivation from 600 acres in the Abakaliki division to 18,000 acres in 1954, and cultivated 20,000 acres within the next five years, while the number of rice mills rose to 95. [10]
Abakaliki rice takes its root from the Asian Oryza sativa and the African Oryza glaberrima. [11]
The varieties include FARO 1, FARO 44, FARO 57, NERICA 19, and WAB 189-B-B-8-HB, among others, many of which were introduced by colonial authorities and missionaries. [12] Other varieties include 306, Iron, Mars, R8, CP, Mandela, Brown rice and Geisha. [13]
Abakaliki rice dish is an everyday food in Ebonyi State and across Nigeria and is traditionally served as jollof rice. [14] The Abakaliki rice dish is also served as white rice and stew. The stew can be a fresh or canned tomato stew, or a vegetable sauce of tomato, fresh pepper, onions, seasonings, meat, spices, pumpkin, crayfish, vegetable oil, salt, etc. It also goes well with ayamase stew. A dish of Abakaliki rice is also served with fried plantain, or cooked together with white, brown, or honey beans as jollof rice or as white rice and beans. The rice is also served as a side in a beef, chevon, or chicken pepper soup dish. It is also served with pepper soup as the stew. [15]
Rice is the most significant cash crop in Ebonyi State. Nearly every household in Ebonyi engages in the cultivation of Abakaliki rice, given its profitability and relatively low production costs. [16]
With an average yield of 6.7 metric tonnes per harvest, Ebonyi State is Nigeria's largest rice producer. [17]
Historically, Abakaliki rice was a vital export commodity. Rice export from Abakaliki to Ghana in 1965 is estimated to have fetched approximately £3 million for the eastern region government under Dr. Michael Okpara. [18]
Established in 1964, the Abakaliki Rice Mill operates on 1,938.464 square metres under the Abakaliki Rice Mill Company Ltd. The mill processes up to 11,000 metric tonnes of rice per month, with individual machines capable of producing over 140 bushels in four hours. The mill is managed by the Rice Mill Owners Association, which oversees operations and quality standards. [19]
African cuisine is an integral part of the continent's diverse cultures reflecting its long and complex history. The evolution of African cuisine is closely entwined with the lives of the native people, influenced by their religious practices, climate and local agriculture. Early African societies were largely composed of hunter-gatherers who relied on foraging for wild fruits, vegetables, nuts, and hunting animals for sustenance. As agriculture developed across the continent, there was a gradual shift to a more settled lifestyle with the cultivation of crops such as millet, sorghum, and later maize. Agriculture also brought about a change in diet, leading to the development of a variety of culinary traditions which vary by religion. Many African traditional dishes are based on plant- and seed-based diets.
The Kofyar are a population in central Nigeria numbering around 50,000. After several anthropological studies, they provide good illustrations of how colonial authorities become unwittingly enmeshed in local politics; of sustainable subsistence agricultural production in crowded areas; of successful self-directed development of market-oriented agriculture; and of the use of "traditional" cultural resources to prosper in modern Nigeria.
Ebonyi State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the southwest. Named for the Abonyi (Aboine) River—a large part of which is in the state's south—Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu state in 1996 and has its capital in Abakaliki.
Abakaliki is the capital city of Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria, located 64 kilometres (40 mi) southeast of Enugu. The inhabitants are primarily members of the Igbo nation. It was the headquarters of the Ogoja province before the creation of the Southeastern State in 1967.
Enugu State verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. The state takes its name from its capital and largest city, Enugu. The city acquired township status in 1917 and was called Enugwu-Ngwo. Due to the rapid expansion towards areas owned by other indigenous communities, it was renamed Enugu in 1928.
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU) was founded in 1999 in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. The university's medical faculty was established in 1991 as ESUT's Faculty of Health Sciences. Many of its facilities were developed in response to a Guinea worm pandemic; the Abakaliki Specialist Hospital, created for this purpose, was remodelled to become Ebonyi State University's primary teaching hospital. It was subsequently granted accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for the training of medical students and resident doctors. Since it became part of Ebonyi State University, the medical school has received considerable funding from the Ebonyi government.
Yam is the common name for some plant species in the genus Dioscorea that form edible tubers.
Ghanaian cuisine refers to the meals of the Ghanaian people. The main dishes of Ghana are centered around starchy staple foods, accompanied by either a sauce or soup as well as a source of protein. The primary ingredients for the vast majority of soups and stews are tomatoes, hot peppers, and onions. As a result of these main ingredients, most Ghanaian jollof rice, soups, and stews appear red or orange.
Agriculture is a major sector of the Nigerian economy, accounting for up to 35% of total employment in 2020. According to the FAO, agriculture remains the foundation of the Nigerian economy, providing livelihood for most Nigerians and generating millions of jobs. Along with crude oil, Nigeria relies on the agricultural products it exports to generate most of its national revenue. The agricultural sector in Nigeria comprises four sub-sectors: crop production, livestock, forestry, and fishing.
West African cuisine encompasses a diverse range of foods that are split between its 16 countries. In West Africa, many families grow and raise their own food, and within each there is a division of labor. Indigenous foods consist of a number of plant species and animals, and are important to those whose lifestyle depends on farming and hunting.
Nigerian cuisine consists of dishes or food items from the hundreds of Native African ethnic groups that comprises Nigeria. Like other West African cuisines, it uses spices and herbs with palm oil or groundnut oil to create deeply flavored sauces and soups.
Ground provisions is the term used in West Indian nations to describe a number of traditional root vegetable staples such as yams, sweet potatoes, dasheen root (taro), eddos and cassava. They are often cooked and served as a side dish in local cuisine. Caribbean recipes will often simply call for ground provisions rather than specify specific vegetables.
Agriculture in the Philippines is a major sector of the economy, ranking third among the sectors in 2022 behind only Services and Industry. Its outputs include staples like rice and corn, but also export crops such as coffee, cavendish banana, pineapple and pineapple products, coconut, sugar, and mango. The sector continues to face challenges, however, due to the pressures of a growing population. As of 2022, the sector employs 24% of the Filipino workforce and it accounted for 8.9% of the total GDP.
The cuisine of Equatorial Guinea is a blend of the cuisines of the native peoples of this African country, including the Annobonese, the Bubi, the Fang, and the Kombe. It is also influenced by the cuisines of Spain ; other African nations such as Nigeria and Cameroon; Islamic states such as Morocco; and Creole cuisine overall. Its cuisine incorporates various meats, including game and bushmeat as well as imports, and is known for its strong flavors and high spice levels. Fish and chicken are common dishes.
The cuisine of Niger draws on traditional African cuisines. Various spices are used and meals include grilled meat, seasonal vegetables, salads, and various sauces. Meals in Niger usually start with colorful salads made from seasonal vegetables. Moringa leaves are a favorite for a salad.
The pigeon pea or toor dal is a perennial legume from the family Fabaceae native to the Eastern Hemisphere. The pigeon pea is widely cultivated in tropical and semitropical regions around the world, being commonly consumed in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Agriculture in Rivers State is an important branch of the economy of Rivers State, Nigeria. It is the main source of livelihood for the rural people. Agriculture creates employment, provides income and helps curb out-migration. The industry in the state is overseen by the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture.
Ofada rice is a Yoruba dish. It is the name of an indigenous rice from a small community called Ofada, located in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. It is not exclusively grown in the community, but it is an indigenous rice grown in southwest Nigeria but named after the Ofada community. It is used in making a variety of dishes. Ofada rice are mostly blends, and some of the rice varieties in the blends are not indigenous to Africa; however, they usually also contain African rice. It is grown almost exclusively in Ogun State, a state in southwestern Nigeria. Ofada rice is grown on free-draining soil where the water table is permanently below the root of the plant.
Izzi is a local government area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
Ebonyi South is one of three senatorial districts in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.