Nigeria secures $12bn loan from Japan to boost food production

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says it has secured 12 billion Japanese yen from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as emergency support loan to Nigeria.

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who commended JICA for the support, said the funding aims to enhance sustainable and resilient agriculture under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) a statement by the ministry revealed.

“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.

Others other components include improvement in delivery of farm inputs, enhancing quality extension services and leveraging technology for real-time information on weather patterns, market prices, and pest outbreak among others.

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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 partnership has served as a bridge between research and practice, equipping farmers with necessary skills and knowledge

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

This initiative demonstrates the commitment of both the Nigerian government and JICA to improving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.