National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS).

This National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) is a sub-sectoral document aiming to elevate Nigeria's rice production from 3.4 million tonnes in 2007 to 12.85 million tonnes by 2018. The Strategy focuses on three priority areas (1) Post-Harvest Handling and Processing, establishing new rice processing mills, developing standards for domestic rice, conducting a census of rice farms and processors, and providing training across the rice value chain; (2) Land Development and Irrigation to rehabilitate underutilized irrigation schemes, expand rice cultivation areas, and enhance mechanization for timely farm operations; (3) Seed Development and Other Production Inputs, subsidizing seed and other inputs to ensure affordability and availability, support seed production, and promote the use of hybrid rice varieties and biotechnology. Key visions and objectives include (i) Seed System to enhance access to improved rice seed varieties for farmers through direct distribution or market-based systems; (ii) Agro-Chemicals, by strengthening farmer-supplier connections for affordable agro-chemicals, emphasizing proper handling and application; (iii) Fertilizer, develop a robust fertilizer marketing and distribution network, driven by the private sector, to ensure availability at reasonable prices; (iv) Mechanization, by the promotion of modern agricultural mechanization to reduce labor-intensive practices and support commercial rice production; (v) Irrigation to expand irrigated land for rice cultivation significantly over the next decade; (vi) Post-Harvest Handling and Processing, improving rice quality to meet export standards by enhancing processing capacities and providing training to farmers and processors; (vii) Marketing, boosting the market share of locally processed rice, improving both local and international distribution networks; (vii) Access to Credit, through the improvement of timely and adequate lending to all stakeholders in the rice value chain; (viii) Extension Services provided to farmers of all scales; (ix) Research and Technology, strengthening research and extension systems to effectively disseminate improved technologies, including crop and soil fertility management, integrated pest management, and improved harvest practices.
Project management, including coordination, monitoring, and evaluation, is integral to the Strategy's implementation across all components. The NRDS seeks to create a conducive policy environment for rice sector development and address challenges in every step of the rice value chain. To oversee the program, a National Coordinating Committee will be established, comprising representatives from domestic stakeholders and donor agencies, to guide the implementation and monitoring of the NRDS in Nigeria.