In a significant stride towards combating malnutrition and food insecurity, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has announced the official release of Africa’s first zinc-enriched rice varieties, FARO 71 and FARO 72. This announcement was made during a press briefing at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in Abuja on 28 April 2025.
The development of these biofortified rice varieties is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Government and HarvestPlus, with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its market systems development programme, Propcom+. Other partners include the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The introduction of FARO 71 and FARO 72 aims to address the widespread issue of zinc deficiency in Nigeria, which significantly impacts public health, particularly among children and women.
Zinc is an essential micronutrient crucial for immune function, growth, cognitive development, and overall well-being. Unfortunately, a large portion of the Nigerian population does not meet their daily zinc requirements due to diets low in bioavailable micronutrients. This deficiency contributes to weakened immune systems, stunted growth, and increased susceptibility to infections.
The new rice varieties are not only enriched with zinc but also offer higher yields, drought tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and adaptability to savannah and rainforest ecologies. These traits make them valuable tools for enhancing the productivity and resilience of rice farming systems in vulnerable communities.
The release of FARO 71 and FARO 72 is expected to significantly improve dietary zinc intake and strengthen food and nutrition security in Nigeria. This initiative builds on successful efforts in countries like Bangladesh and India, where zinc-enriched rice has led to measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes.
Senator Kyari emphasised the importance of this milestone, noting that it provides sustainable, innovative market opportunities for smallholder farmers while supplying healthier, nutrient-dense food to Nigerian and African consumers. The support of international partners, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Propcom+ Project, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), has been instrumental in achieving this breakthrough, he noted.
According to the Minister, efforts will also focus on seed multiplication, farmer training, and demand creation through awareness and education campaigns, all of which are ongoing interventions facilitated by Propcom+ in other crop varieties.
The event brought together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, media, development partners, and agricultural experts, including Propcom+’s Team Lead, Dr Adiya Ode.
In her remarks, Dr Adiya Ode reiterated Propcom+’s readiness to continue working with both public and private sector partners to ensure that these zinc varieties reach the farmers and families who need them the most.
The Country Representative of HarvestPlus, Yusuf Dollah, also highlighted that a commercialisation plan is in place to ensure the scale-up of these varieties through further collaboration with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI).
Given Propcom+’s ongoing mission to promote nutrition-dense foods through climate-smart agricultural practices, this development marks a promising step towards addressing malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria and sets a precedent for other African nations.
