Nigeria: Project on Capacity Development for Enhancement of Rice Seed Production (Phase 1)

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of approximately 232.68 million (World Bank, 2024). About 80 percent of the country’s land area is suitable for cultivation, totaling approximately 71 million hectares, which is roughly 16 times the cultivated area of Japan. Nigeria spans diverse agro-ecological zones, from semi-arid regions in the north to tropical regions in the south, and has fertile soils and abundant water resources. Despite this significant agricultural potential and its position as Africa’s largest rice producer, Nigeria has yet to fully meet its growing domestic rice demand, in part due to challenges related to rice seed quality and seed production systems.

In response to these challenges, the project aims to expand the supply of high-quality rice seeds by strengthening the capacity of human resources involved in rice seed production. Through this approach, the project contributes to increased rice self-sufficiency and improved food security in Nigeria.

The project is implemented in Niger State and Oyo State, and is planned to run from 2025 to 2029.

Rice transplanting by farmers

Parboiling process: steaming harvested paddy rice

Upland rice seed production field managed by a seed company

Presence of red rice in harvested rice

Field trials for rice cultivation conducted by the project