Institute, Partners Showcase Zinc-enriched Rice Varieties To Boost Nutrition

The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, in partnership with HarvestPlus Nigeria and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has stepped up efforts to deepen food and nutrition security through a field demonstration of zinc-biofortified rice in Lavun, Niger State.

At the field day, stakeholders, including development partners, farmers and value chain actors, inspected the performance of two improved rice varieties, FARO 71 and FARO 72.

According to a statement by the institute’s spokesperson, Mohammed Tukur Mohammed, the initiative was designed to promote the adoption of nutrient-dense rice varieties and accelerate their uptake among farming communities, as part of efforts to tackle malnutrition and strengthen domestic food systems.

The zinc-biofortified rice varieties, developed and released through NCRI’s collaboration with HarvestPlus Nigeria, are currently being demonstrated in key rice-producing areas to enhance awareness and encourage large-scale cultivation.

The project is being implemented under an out-grower arrangement involving 30 farmers cultivating 30 hectares, with an expected output of about 100 metric tonnes of rice seed.

The minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, lauded the institute’s interventions, describing them as consistent with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency and improved nutrition outcomes.

He said the promotion of biofortified crops represents a strategic response to the twin challenges of food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly zinc deficiency, which remains a public health concern.

The executive director of NCRI, Mohamed Ndagi Ishaq, in his remarks, described zinc-biofortified rice as a breakthrough with the capacity to improve both nutrition and rural livelihoods and urged the farmers and stakeholders to embrace the technology for sustainable agricultural growth.

He emphasised the visual quality, resilience and nutritional superiority of the varieties, positioning them as key tools in Nigeria’s ongoing agricultural transformation drive.

The Niger State commissioner for Agriculture, Isah Sidi Rijau, reaffirmed the state government’s support for initiatives aimed at boosting productivity and improving farmers’ welfare, as other dignitaries, including representatives of AGRA, traditional rulers and religious leaders, attended the event.

The participants were trained on Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) and taken through on-field demonstrations to enhance their understanding of optimal production techniques and seed quality management.