The Niger State Government has signed a $1.2 billion agricultural partnership agreement with AfricaRice Farm Centre in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at significantly expanding rice production in the state.
Under the five-year agreement, Niger Foods Ltd., an agricultural investment arm of the state government, will drive the project which targets increasing the state’s annual paddy rice output from 1.5 million metric tons to 10 million metric tons by 2030.
The initiative also includes the development of a 5,000-hectare breeder, foundation, and certified seed farm capable of producing 25,000 tons of high-quality rice seeds. These seeds are expected to support cultivation across 500,000 hectares of farmland, comprising 100,000 hectares of modern commercial farms and 40,000 hectares of micro, small, and medium-scale rice farms.
According to the plan, over 100,000 jobs will be created as part of efforts to boost food security, rural employment, and economic diversification in the state.
AfricaRice, a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), will provide technical expertise, deploy modern rice technologies, and connect global development partners to support the project in Niger State.
Speaking during the signing ceremony and facility tour in Côte d’Ivoire, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the partnership as a milestone in the state’s agricultural transformation drive. He said the collaboration aligns with his administration’s vision to make Niger a leading hub for rice production in Nigeria and Africa.
“With the right partnerships, technology, and inclusive policies, Africa can not only feed itself but the world,” the governor said.
The management of AfricaRice lauded Governor Bago’s commitment to agricultural development and commended the state’s forward-thinking policies geared toward food security.
The project is part of the New Niger agenda, which seeks to harness the state’s vast agricultural potential through strategic investments and innovation.
