In a bold move to position itself as Nigeria’s leading rice-producing hub, the Niger State Government has signed a $1.2 billion agricultural partnership with AfricaRice, a top international research institution under the CGIAR consortium.
Facilitated through Niger Foods Limited, the state’s investment vehicle, the agreement aims to scale up annual paddy rice production from the current 1.5 million metric tons to a staggering 10 million metric tons by 2030.
A major component of the project includes the establishment of a 5,000-hectare seed production farm, expected to yield 25,000 tons of high-quality breeder, foundation, and certified rice seeds. These will supply over 500,000 hectares of rice farms, including 100,000 hectares of new commercial farmland and 40,000 hectares for micro, small, and medium-scale farmers.
The initiative is set to create over 100,000 jobs along the rice value chain and will integrate climate-smart and innovative agricultural practices suited to Niger State’s unique ecological conditions.
AfricaRice will provide technical expertise, advanced rice farming technologies, and support engagement with global development partners to ensure successful implementation.
This transformative project underscores Niger State’s strategic commitment to food security, rural employment, and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria.
