The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) is hosting a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported rice and enhancing food security.
Organized by the Regional Rice Value Chain Development (RRVCD) project with support from the Islamic Development Bank and AfricaRice, the workshop is taking place at Bakadaji Hotel and involves twenty technical officers.
Key topics include seed selection, certification, storage, and field inspection, led by top rice experts. Fafanding S. Fatajo emphasized that quality seed is vital for food security, as the country currently imports about 75% of its rice. Dr. Ali Ibrahim from AfricaRice highlighted the need for climate-resilient seed varieties to improve productivity and farmer incomes.
Permanent Secretary Alhagie Nyangado reiterated the government’s commitment to rice self-sufficiency, stressing the importance of policy frameworks, agricultural research, and political leadership. He urged participants to apply their knowledge in the field to enhance rice production.
