The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has launched a Community Rice Seed Production Project to boost rice seed production in Niger and Oyo States.
Confirming this development, the Public Relations Officer of the institute, Mohammed Tukur Mohammed said the project, which aims to strengthen the local rice seed system, has selected 40 lead farmers—20 from each state—to pioneer high-quality seed production in their respective communities. To equip them with the necessary skills, an intensive training programme was organized on best agronomic practices, seed certification and the seed registration process.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Usman Aliyu, Director/HOD of the Agricultural Engineering Department and Project Coordinator from NCRI Badeggi, stated that the project is designed to enhance seed quality and improve farmers’ productivity. He added that the initiative will empower farmers with both technical knowledge and essential inputs to sustain quality rice seed production in Nigeria.
To support the trained farmers, they were provided with starter packs containing fertilizers, agrochemicals and high-yielding Faro 44 rice seeds to kick-start their production.
The Executive Director of NCRI Badeggi, Dr. Mohammed Ndagi Ishaq, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to driving research and innovation that directly benefits farmers. He emphasized that projects like this align with NCRI’s mission to promote sustainable, demand-driven agricultural practices and contribute to national food security.
With this initiative, NCRI Badeggi and its partners continue to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector by ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality seeds, improved farming techniques and essential resources needed for increased productivity.
