Japan has provided a grant of about ¥587 million to strengthen rice seed production in Nigeria and support efforts to improve agricultural productivity and food security.

Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hideo Suzuki, disclosed this at the handing-over ceremony of the Project for the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production System at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.

Suzuki said the project would strengthen the capacity of NCRI to produce high-quality breeder and foundation rice seeds, to improve the quality of certified seeds supplied to farmers across the country.

He said better access to quality seeds would help increase yields, improve productivity and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s seed system.

The ambassador described agriculture as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy and food security, noting that rising demand for rice continued to outpace domestic production.

He said the project also supports the Federal Government’s Second National Rice Development Strategy (2020–2030), which aims to double domestic rice production by 2030.

Suzuki stressed that access to quality seeds was essential to achieving higher agricultural productivity. He noted that modern farming technologies and improved agronomic practices could only reach their full potential when farmers have reliable planting materials.

“Good seed is the beginning of a good harvest,” he said.

The grant will fund agricultural equipment for NCRI headquarters and its outstations in Niger and Oyo states to support seed cultivation and production.

The equipment package includes 20 medium-sized tractors, three rice transplanters, four small combine harvesters and two excavators.

Additional equipment to be supplied under the project includes four constant-temperature germination testers, three automatic weather observation systems for testing purposes and seven small flat drying machines for post-harvest processing.

The Japanese government is implementing the project in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural production capacity.

In a keynote address, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, commended the government and people of Japan as well as JICA for their continued support for Nigeria’s agricultural development.

He said the intervention would contribute to strengthening the country’s rice value chain and efforts to improve food security.

The project therefore brings equipment and production support to the National Cereals Research Institute while focusing on the quality and availability of rice seed as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.

Source: MSME Africa Online