NCRI partner with Saemaul Undong Foundation to boost cereal production

THE National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) has witnessed a fresh boost as the headquarters of the institute, Badeggi, Niger, and Saemaul Undong Foundation, Korea, sealed a partnership to improve the lifestyle of local farmers in Katsina State and redefining the face of agriculture in Nigeria.

According to both parties, the partnership would complement as well as strengthen other existing efforts to foster cereal production in Nigeria, and also support the government’s arrangement through the ministry of agriculture to fortify agriculture in Nigeria.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCRI and Saemaul Undong Foundation, which was witnessed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, who was represented  by the Director, South-West Zone, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, was well received by the institution and ministry as the development boast of providing education and training of extension farmers and local rice farmers in Katsina State and Nigeria at large.

The partnership, which was also shared by the Katsina State government and Dangote Rice Limited respectively and would take off soon after the signing was established at the NCRI Ibadan station, Moor Plantation, Oyo State, recently.

Nanono noted that the MoU would boost rice production and as well encourage and build capacity for farmers in Nigeria.

“The MoU will go a long way in encouraging others and develop agriculture in Nigeria. Before now, we have various partnerships, but any partnership must have a specific area it’s addressing for a fruitful impact. I believe the foreign partnership has a direction and they are focused to contribute to the growth of rice production in Nigeria. I believe that their effect would be effective,” he added.

Saemaul Undong Foundation, County Director, Nigeria, Kyungbok Lee, described the MoU as a welcome development, noting that it would move the mission of the foundation faster following the partnership with NCRI, Kastina State government and Dangote rice.

He said: “For the cooperation between both parties, we will actualise our project this year.”

“We found the system in Nigeria well structured, but how the government and local farmers implementing or applying farm production might need advice from the specialist group or foundation like us. So, what we are trying to do is. Some people suffer from resources or lack of education, but we will provide what they need, not necessarily finance, proper lecture join them in practice on the field and supply proper material to boost agriculture as well as increase their income buy and production.

“We stand for ‘New Community Movement’ which is guided by over 50 years of experience in the Republic of Korea and its presence in over four countries across the African continent aims at rural development within local communities and examining their weakness and strength in a bid to improve their productivity and self-reliance,” Lee added.

He also stressed that collaboration was key in the efforts of the government to boost rice production in the state as NCRI is charged with the role of providing the needed materials for education and training of local rice farmers.

“NCRI is also in charge of the development of training modules for pest control for local rice farmers. This also aligns with the foundation’s aim to support members of the rural community who are into rice farming to increase their production capacity, reduce post-harvest losses and improve their overall income level through the provision of technical support and on-site equipment. Saemaul Undong Foundation allows communities to harness locally available resources to reduce their cost of production,” he said.