Outline of the Project

Project Name

Rice Post-Harvest Processing and Marketing Pilot Project in Nasarawa and Niger States (RIPMAPP)

Country

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Date of R/D Signed

16th March, 2011

Term of Cooperation

September, 2011 to September, 2015

Implementing Organization

Agro-Processing and Marketing Department (APM) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and Niger State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP)

Project Background

Nigeria is the largest rice producer in Africa, but imports 40% of the rice it consumes. The domestic supply cannot meet the country's increasing demand for rice. The biggest obstacle to increasing domestic rice production is most likely post-harvest processing technologies. Improper post-harvest processing decreases the overall quality of rice, causing small stones mixed in rice, a high percentage of broken grains, and lack of color uniformity in white rice. Accordingly, the price of domestic rice is low compared to imported one.

The situation above discourages the people involved in rice production and processing from expanding rice production and hinders the improvement of their income. In Nigeria, about 65% of the people earn their living through agriculture-related jobs including rice production and processing. Most of them live under the poverty line. Among the priorities of the Government of Nigeria for food security and poverty reduction are to increase the competitiveness of domestic rice against imported one through the improvement of quality by better rice milling technology, and commercialize rice products that suit the consumer's taste through creative marketing. The Government of Nigeria regards the priorities above as the main driving force of "Vision 20: 2020," the policy goal to make Nigeria among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.

Given the background above, the Government of Nigeria and Japan started the "Rice Post-Harvest Processing and Marketing Pilot Project in Nasarawa and Niger States" to improve the quality of domestic rice and reduce the post-harvest loss of the rice.

The project aims to improve the quality, and reduce the post-harvest loss, of domestic rice in the target states of Nasarawa and Niger. To achieve these goals, the project is to (1) identify measures to promote distribution of high-quality domestic rice; (2) develop and improve rice grading standards for domestic rice; (3) enhance the capacity of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP); and (4) enhance the capacity of small-scale rice millers, parboilers and rice farmers.

The main activities of the project are to conduct training and provide technical guidance. The project targets the ADP personnel, the people involved in rice production and processing, i.e., direct beneficiaries of the project, as well as the personnel of the Department of Agro-Processing and Marketing in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Department of Agro-Processing and Marketing personnel provide training and technical guidance to the ADP personnel, who will subsequently provide them to small-scale rice millers, parboilers and rice farmers. This training structure is meant to enhance the capacity of the stakeholders in rice production and processing, and develop rice industries in a continuous and sustainable fashion.

The project, whose focus on post-harvest technology and marketing is epoch-making, has attracted a great deal of attention in and out of Nigeria since its start in August 2011. In addition, as Nigeria is the largest rice-producing country and the largest rice importer in Africa, the project is a key technical cooperation undertaking to achieve the goal of the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), which was launched by Japan to increase rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Overall Goal

Quality of domestic rice is improved, and the post-harvest loss rate is decreased in the target states.

Project Purpose

Quality of domestic rice is improved, and the post-harvest loss rate is decreased in the target areas.

Outputs

• 1. Measures to promote distribution of high quality domestic rice are identified.
• 2. Rice grading standards for domestic rice is improved.
• 3. Capacity of ADP staff regarding training implementation on marketing, post -harvest, and business management is enhanced.
• 4. Capacity of small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers on post-harvest and business management is enhanced.

Activities

1-1	Study distribution channels, quantity, and price trends of rice.
1-2	Examine market demands including potentials for high quality domestic rice.
1-3	Identify challenges of small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers.
1-4	Design collection, processing, and marketing measures to distribute high quality domestic rice and reduce post-harvest loss.
1-5	Select technology and machinery to introduce, and agricultural cooperatives and places to install machinery.

2-1	Study grading standards used by large-scale rice millers.
2-2	Study rice consumers’ taste and quality standards of rice retailers.
2-3	Develop and test grading standards for paddy and cleaned rice suitable for small-scale rice milling.
2-4	Improve grading standards.

3-1	Develop training plan for Nasarawa ADP staff.
3-2	Prepare the curriculums and materials for Nasarawa ADP staff.
3-3	Conduct training on post-harvest techniques, rice value chain, marketing, agricultural cooperatives.
3-4	ADP staffs conduct training for small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers and review the contents of the training.
3-5	Implement activities 3-1 to 3-4 for Niger ADP staff.
3-6	Develop training plan for staff of non-targeted ADPs.
3-7	Prepare the curriculums and materials for non-targeted ADPs.
3-8	Conduct training for staff of non-targeted ADPs.

4-1	Develop training plan for small-scale rice millers, parboilers and rice farmers in Lafia.
4-2	Prepare the curriculums and materials on the activity 4-1.
4-3	Introduce machinery for training.
4-4	Conduct training for small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers in Lafia.
4-5	Implement activities 4-1 to 4-4 for small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers in Bida.
4-6	Disseminate achievements of training to non-targeted small-scale rice millers, parboilers, and rice farmers.