The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has commended the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its emergency support of 12 billion Japanese Yen loan to Nigeria to achieve sustainability and resilience under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).
He noted that the facility will be utilised on three components, namely, enhancement of rice seed quality, improvement in delivery of farm inputs, quality extension services and enhancement of private sector participation in the production of agriculture inputs.
The minister made the commendation during the meeting with the Economic Development Department, JICA, led by its Director-General, Mr. Takao Shimokawa, to his office in Abuja recently.
He stated that the rice seeds production project was domiciled in the National Cereal Research Institute NCRI, Badeggi, Niger State, under the ministry was strategic in enhancing the research and development for breeding of high-yield, disease resistant varieties that can withstand climate variability.
Kyari said, “We will do our part under the technical cooperation with NCRI and include the National Agricultural Seed Council, NASC, to add value to the seed ecosystem.
“While enhancing seed quality is crucial, we recognize that knowledge dissemination is equally important. Our partnership on market oriented agriculture promotion with JICA on the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) project from 2020 to 2024, covering 14 states in Nigeria, to include; Nasarawa, Benue, Osun, Ogun, Kogi, FCT, Taraba, Jigawa, Edo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Cross River, Gombe, and Kebbi has empowered smallholder farmers and has serve as a bridge between research and practice, ensuring that farmers are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive.”
He stated that the ministry will leverage technology to enhance extension services, using mobile applications to provide real-time information on weather patterns, market prices and pest outbreaks to make informed decisions and adapt to challenges more swiftly.
He emphasised that implementing emergency food security measures, enhanced rice seed quality, and expanding extension services are not just initiatives. Rather, they are commitments to the future of our communities and nation.
The minister noted that working together with JICA, researchers, NGOs, and farmers, adding, “We can create a sustainable and resilient agricultural system that ensures food security for all.”
He commended JICA for being a long-term strategic partner, considering the impact of bilateral activities JICA undertakes in the agricultural space in more than four decades.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, reiterated that JICA has always been supportive and will not be taken for granted.
He pointed out that the seed issue was very key because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always said “plant the right seed, then you can feed the entire nation, so seed is key to our food security problems.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Director-General, JICA, Mr. Takao Shimokawa, expressed gratitude for the long-standing collaboration between the Ministry and JICA.
He stated that JICA would continue to prioritize the collaboration towards ensuring economic prosperity and food security in Nigeria, noting that JICA is fully aligned to the ministry’s mandate.
In his words, “Today I take advantage to report the recent progress of JICA assistance in the agricultural sector in three key areas to include food security, announcing that the first disbursement of the loan has been paid yesterday”.
He added: “Now, we are proceeding to supervision and monitoring of the fund utilisation”.
Shimokawa emphasised that JICA and Japan are fully committed to rice production in Africa particularly in Nigeria which is the largest producer of rice, pointing out that the new grant project would provide the machinery for rice production which procurement process is about to commence.
