Niger State has entered into a transformative partnership with the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) to scale its annual rice production to an ambitious 10 million metric tons by 2030, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s drive for food self-sufficiency and agricultural innovation.
The partnership was formalised during a high-level visit by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to AfricaRice headquarters, where both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance technology transfer, infrastructure development, capacity building, and research collaboration.
Governor Bago described the agreement as a crucial step in repositioning Niger State as a key player in Nigeria’s food security strategy. He affirmed the state’s commitment to overhauling its rice value chain with the support of AfricaRice’s advanced, climate-smart technologies tailored specifically for African ecosystems.
“Through this strategic partnership, Niger State is committed to transforming our entire rice value chain to dramatically increase yields and production statewide,” Bago said. “This is a golden opportunity to scale up innovations and achieve the rice self-sufficiency our nation deserves.”
Currently producing 1.5 million metric tons of rice annually, the state plans to expand production sixfold by 2030. The strategy is built on leveraging AfricaRice’s decades of expertise in rice research and its proven track record of climate-resilient agricultural practices.
During the visit, Governor Bago explored several of AfricaRice’s innovations, including the integrated rice-fish system that improves water quality, nutrient efficiency, and climate resilience while boosting food and nutrition security. He also toured the Grain Quality Laboratory, which uses sensory and quality evaluation techniques to ensure market-competitive rice varieties, and the Rice Biodiversity Centre, which hosts the continent’s largest rice germplasm collection for breeding and research.
The agreement was signed between AfricaRice and the Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited. AfricaRice Director General Baboucarr Manneh expressed confidence in the state’s ambitious target, calling it “ambitious but achievable.”
“Governor Bago’s vision to produce 10 million tons of rice is a game-changer,” Manneh said. “This partnership offers a new model that can be replicated across Nigeria to address food insecurity and climate challenges with homegrown, science-backed solutions.”
With rice being a staple for millions across Nigeria, the collaboration is poised to reposition the country’s rice sector while reinforcing resilience in the face of climate change and economic volatility. By integrating traditional agricultural knowledge with advanced research, Niger State’s model could pave the way for a continent-wide transformation in sustainable rice production.
