Japan Strengthens Food Security in Nigeria Through Rice Mechanization Initiative

On 16 April 2026, the Government of Japan commissioned the project for the provision of power tillers and combine harvesters in Gbonyin Local Government Area, Ekiti State.

Funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), this initiative introduced two combine harvesters and six motorized power tillers to modernize local rice production, thereby reducing the burden on farmers and minimizing post-harvest losses.

Using world-renowned Japanese technology from Yanmar and Mitsubishi Mahindra, the project empowers 150 rice farmers across 12 communities to cultivate 1,815 hectares annually, targeting an estimated 7,190 tons of rice each year.

Implemented with the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) and the Ekiti State Agricultural Development Programme (EADP), this intervention strengthens local food security and reaffirms Japan’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.