Minister commends JICA for support to Nigeria’s agric sector
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has secured a significant financial and technical lifeline, courtesy of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to strengthen its agricultural resilience and productivity. The support, valued at ¥12 billion Japanese Yen (approx. ₦94 billion), will fuel key interventions under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), marking a renewed chapter in Nigeria-Japan agribusiness cooperation.
Announced during a high-level meeting in Abuja between the Honourable Minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and JICA’s Director-General, Mr. Takao Shimokawa, the funding will be channeled into three focal areas:
- Improvement of rice seed quality, anchored at the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Niger State.
- Strengthening of farm input delivery systems and extension services, through digital tools and mobile platforms.
- Promotion of private sector participation in agricultural inputs production, creating business opportunities across the value chain.
The Minister noted that research-led innovations—particularly the development of climate-resilient, disease-resistant seed varieties—will be supported through technical cooperation with NCRI and National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC).
Kyari also highlighted the relevance of past collaborations like the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) initiative, implemented in 14 Nigerian states (2020–2024), which linked smallholder farmers with extension knowledge and market access.
As part of the commitment, the Ministry aims to enhance access to real-time weather, market prices, and pest alert systems via mobile apps—critical for farm-level decision-making.
JICA confirmed the first tranche of loan disbursement has already been made, with supervision and fund monitoring underway, while procurement for rice production machinery is set to commence shortly.
The Minister of State, Senator Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, reinforced the strategic importance of quality seeds, quoting President Bola Tinubu’s food security mantra: “Plant the right seed, then you can feed the entire nation.
This partnership reinforces Japan’s four-decade-long footprint in Nigeria’s agricultural development landscape and strengthens bilateral efforts toward sustainable food systems and economic resilience.
Source- Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The JICA emergency loan represents a timely and impactful boost to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts toward food security. It comes at a crucial moment, reinforcing the push for improved productivity, stronger seed systems, and smarter extension services. Below is an overview of what this support means for key players across the agri-food ecosystem.:
For Smallholder Farmers:
- Seed Security: Access to high-yielding, disease-tolerant rice seed varieties will improve productivity and reduce crop failure risks due to climate shocks.
- Tech-Enabled Extension: The integration of mobile advisory tools gives farmers a chance to access critical market and climate data, enhancing their decision-making.
- Horticulture Lessons: The SHEP experience has proven that linking farmers with markets and knowledge leads to increased incomes and reduced post-harvest losses.
For Researchers and Input Developers:
- New R&D Opportunities: Collaboration with NCRI and NASC opens up funding and research scope in seed breeding, input quality assurance, and agroecological adaptation.
- Private Sector Inclusion: The new funding stresses the role of private firms in seed and input value chains—this is a green light for startups, agro-dealers, and seed producers to scale up operations.
For Agribusiness Investors:
- Input Delivery Ecosystem: The improvement of logistics and delivery frameworks could open doors for private sector-led distribution models and digital platforms.
- Monitoring & Supervision: With JICA’s close oversight of fund utilization, transparency and impact assessment are expected—fostering investor confidence.
For Policymakers & Development Partners:
- Proof of Model: The JICA model—blending finance, R&D, extension, and market systems—provides a replicable framework for other development initiatives.
- Policy Leverage: The success of this initiative could be used to influence regional seed harmonization policies, PPP frameworks, and subsidy reform.
JICA’s intervention is more than financial support—it’s a strategic stimulus for a smarter, tech-integrated, and inclusive agribusiness system in Nigeria. For stakeholders across the value chain, this presents a rare opportunity to align with a national growth blueprint, drive innovation, and create scalable agribusiness models.
