In a bid to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to revolutionize rice seed production systems in Nigeria.
The official signing ceremony, attended by key stakeholders from NCRI, JICA, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, signifies a strategic partnership to address critical challenges in Nigeria’s rice production value chain.
Under the partnership, NCRI will acquire modern equipment for rice cultivation, production, testing, inspection, and post-harvest processing.
This will enable the institute to enhance its capacity for producing high-quality certified seeds, which is expected to increase rice production in the country and support Nigeria’s agricultural development goals.
Over the years, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has carried out various projects across the country, focusing on providing equipment and materials through grant aid programs and organizing training sessions.
These efforts have contributed to building capacity and improving systems in various sectors of the economy.
Its efforts include grant-aided projects and in-country training programs in states like Oyo, Kano, and Yobe.
In Oyo State, for example, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project implemented in 2003, alongside training programs from 2003 to 2005, provided much-needed access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities.
Similar projects were carried out in Kano from 2006 to 2008 and in Yobe from 2007 to 2008, improving rural communities in these states.