According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has granted Nigeria an emergency support loan of 12 billion Japanese yen.

In the minister’s statement, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, thanked JICA for its assistance and stated that the money aims to improve sustainable and resilient agriculture through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).

“We can create a sustainable and resilient agricultural system that ensures food security for all,” Kyari said.

Key components of the loan, he said, include Enhancement of Rice Seed Quality, Improving rice seed production, focusing on high-yield, disease-resistant varieties that can withstand climate variability, housed at the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State.

Other components include improving the delivery of farm inputs, enhancing quality extension services, and leveraging technology for real-time information on weather patterns, market prices, and pest outbreaks.

In his remarks, Abdullahi Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, was optimistic that “Planting the right seed can feed the entire nation, so seed is key to our food security problems.”

“This collaboration empowers smallholder farmers through initiatives like the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) project, covering 14 states in Nigeria,” he said

The collaboration was a bridge between research and practice, providing farmers with the required skills and information.

Takao Shimokawa, JICA director general and delegation leader, stated, “JICA and Japan are fully committed to rice production in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, which is the largest producer of rice.”

This initiative illustrates the Nigerian government and JICA’s commitment to increasing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.

Source: Tribune Online

Image Credit: Leadership News