The government of Japan on Monday provided about 587 million Japanese yen, equivalent to $3.5 million, to strengthen rice seed production and boost agriculture and Nigeria’s food security.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hideo Suzuki, disclosed this at the handover ceremony of the “Project for the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production System” at the National Cereals Research Institute, NCRI, Badeggi, Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.
Suzuki explained that the project “would strengthen NCRI capacity to produce high-quality breeder and foundation rice seeds, thereby improving the quality of certified seeds supply to farmers nationwide and ultimately increasing yields, productivity and confidence in Nigeria’s seed system.”
He said agriculture remained a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy and food security, noting that “the growing demand for rice continued to outpace domestic production.”
The Ambassador said Japan was using the project to support the Federal government’s Second National Rice Development Strategy (2020–2030) aimed at doubling domestic rice production.
“Good seed is the beginning of a good harvest,” Suzuki said, adding that “quality seed was fundamental to successful agriculture, as modern farming technologies and good agronomic practices could only reach their full potential when farmers had access to reliable planting materials.”
He said the grant would finance modern agricultural equipment for NCRI headquarters and its outstations in Niger and Oyo states, “comprising 20 medium-sized tractors, three rice transplanters, four small combine harvesters and two excavators for seed cultivation and production.”
Other equipment, he said, included “four constant-temperature germination testers, three sets of automatic weather observation systems for testing purposes and seven small flat drying machines for post-harvest processing.”
Suzuki described the investment as beyond machinery.
“It goes beyond machinery, describing it as an investment in knowledge, innovation and the future of Nigerian agriculture, which would improve seed production efficiency and quality, reduce labour-intensive processes and enhance NCRI’s capacity to serve farmers nationwide,” he said.
He said the project also combined equipment provision with “technical assistance, operation and maintenance training and institutional capacity development,” stressing that “sustainable agricultural development required both machinery and human capacity.”
The Ambassador urged NCRI “to ensure proper operation, maintenance and effective utilisation of the equipment so that its benefits would continue to reach Nigerian farmers for many years.” He added that “Japan remained committed to strengthening agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods in Nigeria.”
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In his remarks, Alhaji Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, commended the Government and people of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their consistent support. He described the intervention as “timely and strategic,” saying it “would strengthen rice seed production and mechanisation while addressing critical gaps in the rice value chain.”
Abdullahi said that “agriculture remains central to Nigeria economic transformation and national stability, stressing that food security is not merely an agricultural issue but a matter of national security and economic sovereignty.”
He said the project aligned with “the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the Federal government priorities of achieving food security, reducing dependence on imports, creating jobs, empowering farmers and stimulating inclusive economic growth.”
Mr Keiji Ishigame, Chief Representative of JICA Nigeria Office, said JICA launched the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) in 2008 to support African countries to increase rice production and reduce dependence on imports.
“Nigeria remains a key participant in CARD and developed the National Rice Development Strategy II (NRDS II), 2020 to 2030, as a roadmap for transforming the rice sector through improved productivity, stronger seed systems, mechanisation and value-chain development,” he said.
Ishigame said the equipment provided included “tractors, seed production and processing machinery, laboratory equipment, an Automatic Weather Station and maintenance tools installed at NCRI headquarters in Badeggi and its outstations in Ibadan and Mokwa.”
He added that JICA was also implementing “the Capacity Development for Enhancement of Rice Seed Production in Nigeria project to strengthen institutions and stakeholders involved in rice seed multiplication, quality control and seed management.”
Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger State, represented by Malam Muhammed Baba, Managing Director, Niger Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA), “reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at boosting rice seed production and food security.” He said “improving access to quality rice seeds would enhance farmers’ productivity, food security and reduce dependence on food imports.”
Earlier, Dr Mohammed Ndagi-Ishaq, Executive Director, NCRI, said “the project had significantly enhanced the institute’s capacity for rice seed production.” He said the provision of modern equipment “would improve the efficiency, quality and scale of seed production,” and noted the institute had developed “high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties, including zinc-biofortified rice varieties.”
He appealed to Japan “to support NCRI with five Hilux vehicles to strengthen field inspection, monitoring and technical support in remote locations.”
Also speaking, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Chairman, NCRI Governing Board, described the intervention as “a testament to the power of international cooperation and a shared commitment to food security and economic prosperity.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment supplied included tractors and attachments, rice transplanters, combine harvesters, seed graders, paddy huskers, germination testers, laboratory equipment, grain moisture meters, dryers, an Automatic Weather Station, maintenance tools, spare parts and other consumables.