Over the weekend, the federal government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Government of Japan and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), finalized agreements aimed at enhancing the country’s rice seed production system and reinforcing projects at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The agreements were signed in Abuja by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi.
Senator Bagudu emphasized the significance of these projects in advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development, stating that they represent the fruition of incubated ideas. He highlighted the alignment of these initiatives with Nigeria’s existing systems, emphasizing the primary objective of empowering family-based smallholder farmers and preventing their displacement by large-scale farmers and mechanization.
The rice seed production project aims to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and input substitution. It will focus on improving the quality of breeder and foundation seeds, as well as procuring equipment for rice cultivation, testing, inspection, and post-harvest processing. Additionally, the agreement will enhance the capacity of the National Cereals Research Institution (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State, and its outstations. The proposed project sites are located in Niger and Oyo States.
Observers have described this collaboration as one that underscores the commitment of both Nigeria and Japan to fostering agricultural development and enhancing public health infrastructure in Nigeria. Through these agreements, the two countries aim to drive sustainable growth, empower local farmers, and strengthen disease control measures, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria.
