Japan provides $3.7 million grant to boost Nigeria rice seed production

The Japanese government has awarded a grant of approximately $3.7 million to Nigeria to strengthen its rice seed production system. The initiative, titled the ‘Project for the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production System’, aims to increase the capacity of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) to produce high-quality breeder and foundation rice seeds.

Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Hideo Suzuki announced the funding during a ceremony in Badeggi, Niger State. The grant will finance the procurement of various agricultural tools, including 20 medium-sized tractors, three rice transplanters, four small combine harvesters, two excavators, four constant-temperature germination testers, three automated weather observation systems, and seven small flatbed dryers.

The project is intended to support Nigeria’s Second National Rice Development Strategy (2020–2030), which seeks to double domestic paddy output by 2030. Currently, Nigeria’s average rice yields are approximately 2 tons per hectare, which is below the global average of nearly 3 tons per hectare. By improving the quality of certified seeds available to farmers, the project aims to boost national productivity and food security.