Nigeria: Japan to Boost Rice Seed Production in Nigeria With $3.5m Grant

What the report says

Japan has provided a $3.5 million grant to Nigeria to support rice seed production, according to a report by This Day distributed via AllAfrica. The project was unveiled at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State, during a handover ceremony for a program aimed at improving rice seed systems across the country.

Japanese Ambassador Hideo Suzuki said the funding will be used to expand rice seed production capacity and to equip NCRI with machinery and testing tools. The package includes tractors, rice transplanters, small combine harvesters, excavators, germination testers, weather observation systems and drying equipment. He said the initiative is intended to improve the quality of breeder and foundation seeds, which should strengthen certified seed supply to farmers and help raise yields.

Suzuki also linked the project to Nigeria’s wider food security goals, noting that domestic rice production still trails demand. He said the effort will support Nigeria’s Second National Rice Development Strategy, which seeks to raise output by 2030 through better technology and farming practices. The report said the program will also include technical assistance, maintenance training and institutional capacity building.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, welcomed the support as timely, while NCRI Executive Director Mohammed Ndagi-Ishaq said it would enhance the institute’s rice seed production work. The project matters because rice remains a major staple in Nigeria and improved seed supply is often seen as a key part of boosting farm productivity and reducing reliance on imports.