Abuja, Nigeria | September 18, 2025
The Federal Government has announced a new partnership with the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) aimed at expanding rice production across the country and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imports.
The collaboration, unveiled on Thursday in Abuja, is expected to accelerate the nation’s agricultural transformation agenda by equipping farmers with modern cultivation techniques, improved seedlings, and access to irrigation facilities.
Speaking at the signing event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the partnership was a crucial step toward achieving Nigeria’s food security targets under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that rice, being a staple consumed daily in millions of households, requires urgent interventions to meet growing demand.
“Through this collaboration with CARD, we are not only increasing rice yields but also empowering our farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to compete with global standards. This is about securing Nigeria’s food future and ensuring our people have affordable access to quality rice,” Kyari stated.
The CARD team highlighted that Nigeria remains central to Africa’s rice revolution, with vast arable land and favourable climatic conditions. The group pledged technical support, capacity-building programmes, and enhanced access to regional and international rice value chains.
Agriculture experts welcomed the move, stressing that beyond production, the government must also tackle post-harvest losses, storage, and processing challenges that continue to affect the sector.
The Federal Government confirmed that pilot projects will commence in key rice-producing states before nationwide rollout. Officials said the initiative is expected to create jobs, reduce import bills, and strengthen Nigeria’s drive toward self-sufficiency in food production.
