Niger Gov’t  partners  africarice to cut down importation in Nigeria 

By Daniel Ebi. Minna 

In an effort to adopt scientific agricultural approach in rice production,  Niger  State Government  has entered into a  partnership with Africa rice centre .

The partnership was signed between the Niger State government and the AfricaRice aimed at transforming rice production capacity in the State.

 A delegation from the AfricaRice centre was in Minna over the weekend on a fact-finding visit to assess the level of preparedness of the State to drive the partnership.

The  first partnership, which was signed in July this year, seeks to increase Niger State’s annual paddy rice output from 1.5 million metric tons to 10 million metric tons by the year 2030.

The partnership is  also aimed at  focusing on the development and adoption of climate-smart rice production and processing technologies, as well as innovative agricultural practices fashioned according to the state’s agro-ecological conditions in the next five years.

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago received the delegation at the Council Chamber of Government House Minna.

He said AfricaRice is an inspiration and that the state has identified its strength in agriculture, particularly rice production, and will leave no stone unturned in harnessing the potential.

The Governor expressed confidence that with the partnership, the quantity of rice Niger State will be producing would help in cutting down rice importation into the country by about 70%, create employment, increase revenue generation, and improve the socio-economic life of the people of the state.

He appreciated the AfricaRice delegation for the visit, assuring that his administration is determined to make the partnership with the AfricaRice centre a success.

The Director General of the AfricaRice centre, Baboucarr Manneh, described the agricultural investments of the Niger state government as impressive, saying, with the level of commitment and political will demonstrated by the farmer governor, AfricaRice is poised to translate the state’s ambition on rice production to reality.

He said AfricaRice will deploy its expertise for the rice transformation, starting from the seedlings, to the planting system and extension services to farmers, among others, to achieve rice self-sufficiency and to ensure sustainability.