The Japanese Government has committed about ¥587 million to strengthen rice seed production in Nigeria as part of efforts to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, disclosed this during the handover ceremony for 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 the NCRI to produce high-quality breeder and foundation rice seeds, improving the quality of certified seeds supplied to farmers across the country.

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

According to the ambassador, agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy and food security, while rising demand for rice continues to outpace domestic production.

He noted that the Federal Government’s Second National Rice Development Strategy (2020–2030) targets a doubling of domestic rice production by 2030, adding that Japan’s support was aimed at contributing to the achievement of that goal.

Suzuki stressed that quality seed was fundamental to successful agricultural production, noting that modern farming technologies and improved agronomic practices could only deliver their full potential when farmers had access to reliable planting materials.

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

The ambassador disclosed that the Japanese grant would finance modern agricultural equipment for NCRI headquarters and its outstations in Niger and Oyo states.

The equipment includes 20 medium-sized tractors, three rice transplanters, four small combine harvesters and two excavators to support seed cultivation and production.

The project will also provide 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 said the intervention was designed to improve the entire rice seed production process, from cultivation and testing to harvesting and post-harvest handling.

In his keynote address, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, commended the Japanese Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their continued support for Nigeria’s agricultural development.

He said partnerships that strengthen agricultural research, seed production and farmers’ access to improved inputs remained essential to achieving sustainable food security in Nigeria.