Nigeria is stepping up efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency through deeper cooperation with the AfricaRice Center, as the country seeks to reduce food imports and strengthen its agricultural resilience.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Nwaobiala Ezenwa Chukwuemeka, recently visited the AfricaRice research station at M’Bé in Côte d’Ivoire, where discussions focused on expanding scientific and technological cooperation.

The partnership comes as African countries face increasing pressure to improve domestic food production amid population growth, climate change and rising food import costs.

Nigeria Targets Higher Rice Production

Rice is one of Nigeria’s most important staple foods, making increased domestic production a key component of the country’s food-security strategy.

AfricaRice Director General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh said Nigeria’s large population means improvements in its food production system could have implications across the wider continent.

The two sides are looking to expand the use of improved rice varieties, climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation and modern processing technologies.

For Nigeria, scaling these technologies across rice-producing states could help farmers increase yields while making production more resilient to changing weather conditions.

Technology at the Centre of the Strategy

AfricaRice has highlighted the importance of scientific innovation in helping Nigeria close productivity gaps.

Climate-resilient varieties can help farmers manage increasingly unpredictable weather, while mechanisation can improve efficiency and reduce dependence on labour-intensive farming methods.

Modern processing technology could also reduce post-harvest losses and allow farmers and businesses to capture more value from rice production.

The Nigerian government wants the cooperation to extend beyond existing programmes and reach more farmers directly across the country’s states.

Food Security and Jobs

Increasing local rice production could deliver benefits beyond reducing imports.

A stronger domestic rice industry would create opportunities across the agricultural value chain, including farming, transport, storage, milling, packaging and distribution.

Greater local processing could also support rural employment and help retain more agricultural value within Nigeria.

For Africa’s largest markets, developing these domestic value chains is increasingly important as global supply disruptions and high food prices expose the risks of excessive import dependence.

A Continental Opportunity

Nigeria’s push for rice self-sufficiency reflects a broader shift in African agriculture towards food sovereignty and stronger domestic production.

With its large consumer market and substantial agricultural potential, Nigeria could provide a model for other African countries seeking to reduce dependence on imported food.

The renewed partnership between Nigeria and AfricaRice shows that achieving this goal will require more than increasing farmland. It will depend on combining research, technology, mechanisation, processing, finance and market access.

For Nigeria, the objective is clear: turn agricultural innovation into higher production, stronger rural economies and greater food security.