July 22, 2025, Mbé, Côte d’Ivoire – In a landmark visit that signals a new era for Nigerian rice production, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Director General of Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) welcomed H.E. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, Niger State Governor, alongside Côte d’Ivoire national and local authorities. This high-level meeting has resulted in an ambitious partnership aimed at transforming Niger State into a rice production powerhouse through scientific collaboration and agricultural innovation.
The centerpiece of this collaboration is Niger State’s bold vision to increase annual paddy production from the current 1.5 million tons to an unprecedented 10 million tons by 2030. This six-fold increase represents one of Africa’s most ambitious agricultural transformation targets and positions Niger State as a critical player in Nigeria’s journey toward rice self-sufficiency.
“Through this strategic partnership with AfricaRice, Niger State is committed to transforming our entire rice value chain to dramatically increase yields and production statewide. With rice being a staple food for millions of Nigerians, this partnership presents a golden opportunity to scale up proven innovations and finally achieve the rice self-sufficiency our nation deserves.” stated H.E. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, Niger State Governor.
The partnership will leverage AfricaRice’s decades of expertise in developing climate-smart rice production and processing technologies specifically adapted to African conditions. Through this collaboration, Niger State aims to revolutionize its agricultural sector while contributing significantly to national food security objectives.
Cutting-Edge Innovations Showcase Climate-Smart Agriculture: Integrated Rice-Fish Systems for Climate Resilience
During his visit, Governor Bago experienced firsthand AfricaRice’s groundbreaking climate-smart innovations that will form the foundation of the partnership. The Governor toured AfricaRice’s integrated rice-fish experiment, a revolutionary approach that enhances climate resilience while improving food and nutrition security. This innovative system addresses multiple challenges simultaneously by collecting comprehensive data on greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, mosquito larvae density, nutrient use efficiency, and both rice and fish productivity. The integrated approach represents a holistic solution that encompasses plant, environmental, and human health considerations.
Advanced Grain Quality Laboratory
The visit included demonstrations at AfricaRice’s state-of-the-art Grain Quality Lab, where market sorting and sensory evaluation techniques reveal national and regional consumer preferences. This facility plays a crucial role in developing product profiles and maintaining standardized grain quality standards, supporting varietal selection, advancement, and promotion activities that ensure market acceptance of improved varieties.
World-Class Rice Biodiversity Center and Genebank
Governor Bago explored AfricaRice’s Rice Biodiversity Center, home to Africa’s largest rice germplasm collection and the world’s third-largest rice collection overall. This invaluable resource houses wild accessions, landraces, traditional farm varieties, and both new and heritage improved varieties. The center’s comprehensive conservation, monitoring, regeneration, and characterization activities support global rice breeding, research, and education initiatives.
Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Formalizes Transformative Partnership
The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between
Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Ltd and AfricaRice. This formal agreement establishes the framework for implementing the strategic partnership and ensures systematic collaboration in achieving the ambitious production targets.
The MoU outlines specific areas of cooperation including technology transfer, capacity building, research collaboration, and infrastructure development. Through this partnership, Niger State will gain access to AfricaRice’s extensive portfolio of climate-resilient rice varieties, sustainable production practices, and post-harvest processing technologies.
“This visit highlights the critical importance of strengthening partnerships to advance food security in Africa. Governor Bago’s vision for Niger State to produce 10 million tons of rice is ambitious, but achievable—and our partnership with AfricaRice brings it even closer to reality. We look forward to expanding this model of collaboration to other states across Nigeria.” explained Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, AfricaRice Director General.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural development strategy. With Niger State positioning itself as a rice production powerhouse, the collaboration could serve as a model for other Nigerian states seeking to enhance their agricultural productivity and contribute to national food security.
The integration of climate-smart technologies and innovations addresses critical challenges facing African agriculture, including climate change adaptation, sustainable resource management, and the need for increased productivity to feed growing populations. By combining traditional knowledge with cutting-edge scientific approaches, this partnership exemplifies the type of collaboration needed to transform Africa’s agricultural landscape.
