• Says good seed Is the beginning of good harvest
Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Japanese Government has released $3.5m grant to Nigeria for rice seed production across the country because the government believes “good seed is the beginning of good harvest”
Japanese Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Hideo Suzuki said the investment in the project will boost agricultural production and food security in the Nigeria.
Mr. Hideo Suzuki who disclosed this at the handing-over ceremony of the Project for the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production System at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State said the project will be replicated in all NCRI stations across the country.
In addition, he said the grant would finance procurement of 20 modern agricultural equipment comprising 20 medium-sized tractors, three rice transplanters, four small combine harvesters and two excavators for seed cultivation and production.
Other equipment he said include 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.
Mr. Hideo Suzuki explained the project would “strengthen NCRI capacity to produce high-quality breeder and foundation rice seeds, thereby improving the quality of certified seeds supplied to farmers nationwide and ultimately increase yields, productivity and confidence in Nigeria’s seed system”.
Suzuki noted that agriculture remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy and food security, pointing out that “growing demand for rice continues to outpace domestic production”
The envoy said Japan is also supporting the federal governments Second National Rice Development Strategy (2020–2030) which plans to double domestic rice production by 2030 with modern farming technologies and good agronomic practices.
Suzuki stressed that quality seed was fundamental to successful agriculture, as modern farming technologies and good agronomic practices could only reach their full potential when farmers had access to reliable planting materials.
“Good seed is the beginning of a good harvest,” he declared.
He said the project will also combine equipment provision with technical assistance, operation and maintenance training and institutional capacity development, stressing that sustainable agricultural development required both machinery and human capacity.
Japan had reaffirmed at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) its commitment to supporting African countries in achieving sustainable economic growth, food security and resilient agricultural systems before
describing the Japan-Nigeria relations as a “strong and enduring partnership based on mutual respect, trust and shared aspirations”
Alhaji Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security in an address, commended the government and people of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their consistent support for Nigeria’s agricultural development.
Sabi Abdullahi described the intervention as timely and strategic, adding that it would strengthen rice seed production and mechanisation while also addressing critical gaps in the rice value chain.
Abdullahi maintained that agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s economic transformation and national stability, stressing that food security was not merely an agricultural issue but a matter of national security and economic sovereignty.
In his address, Dr Mohammed Ndagi- Ishaq, Executive Director, NCRI, said the project will significantly enhance the institute’s capacity for rice seed production.