NDDC splashes N60m on rice farmers to boost production
In a bid to enhance rice production and promote agribusiness in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided financial support and training to 300 rice farmers across the region. Each farmer received a starter pack worth ₦200,000, equipping them with resources to apply modern rice farming techniques.
The initiative was part of the NDDC-sponsored training programme, which aims to empower farmers with skills in rice production, processing, and agribusiness management. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the second batch of the programme, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of NDDC, reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to agricultural transformation in the region. Represented by Dr. Winifred Madume, NDDC’s Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ogbuku stated that the programme is designed to enable farmers to:
- Improve rice production techniques
- Establish cooperatives for collective growth
- Explore funding opportunities with financial institutions and development agencies
Strategic Collaborations for Sustainable Agriculture
Ogbuku also highlighted NDDC’s partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to provide apprenticeship training for farmers, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to food security, job creation, and poverty reduction in the region.
Wale Oretan, Deputy Director for Agriculture and Fisheries at NDDC, emphasized that the training combined both theoretical and practical aspects of rice farming, ensuring farmers gained hands-on experience. Beneficiaries received certificates of completion alongside the financial support, equipping them to scale up their rice farming operations.
He encouraged farmers to apply their newly acquired skills to improve rice production across the nine states of the Niger Delta, thereby contributing to the country’s broader food security agenda.
Source- News Agency of Nigeria
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The NDDC’s initiative is a step in the right direction for boosting local rice production, but to maximize impact, sustainability and scalability must be prioritized. Key takeaways include:
- Financial Support vs. Long-Term Impact: While the ₦200,000 starter pack provides immediate relief, stakeholders must ensure that farmers have continuous access to credit, inputs, and mechanization to scale beyond subsistence farming.
- Beyond Training – Strengthening Market Access: Training alone is not enough if farmers struggle to sell their produce at profitable prices. NDDC and other stakeholders must facilitate market linkages, processing hubs, and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.
- Need for Cooperative Structures: Encouraging cooperative formations among farmers is a smart move, but without structured governance, access to finance, and proper management, many cooperatives collapse. Mentorship, financial literacy, and leadership training must complement this effort.
- Scaling the IFAD Partnership: The IFAD collaboration is promising, but there is a need to expand apprenticeship programs to include more youth and women, ensuring inclusivity in the region’s agricultural transformation.
- Policy Support & Private Sector Engagement: The government should introduce policy incentives to attract private investments in rice production. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can provide access to better irrigation, improved seed varieties, and post-harvest processing solutions.
NDDC’s intervention is commendable and aligns with Nigeria’s rice self-sufficiency goals. However, sustainable impact requires a holistic value chain approach, integrating financing, mechanization, cooperative governance, and market accessibility. Agri-food stakeholders must ensure that this initiative translates into long-term productivity growth, reduced imports, and strengthened food security in the Niger Delta.
