By S David Prince
Five women-led rice processing groups from Niger State have received the African Organisation for Standardisation Quality Mark Award, a recognition that now positions their products for export to markets across Africa.
The award was presented on Thursday in Abuja by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at a ceremony recognising compliance with African Standards adopted as Nigerian Industrial Standards. The beneficiaries are supported under the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme, and were drawn from Borgu, Mokwa, Edati and Kontagora Local Government Areas of Niger State.
Ms. Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, said the recognition reflected real progress in agricultural value chain development and demonstrated what rural women processors could achieve when given the right tools and backing. She was represented at the event by Mrs. Chioma Adiele-Okpara, IFAD Country Programme Officer.
“Across Nigeria, IFAD-supported programmes are investing in farmers, processors, cooperatives and rural enterprises to increase productivity, add value, improve market access and generate decent incomes. We firmly believe that smallholder farmers are not merely beneficiaries of development programmes; they are entrepreneurs, business owners, employers and critical actors in transforming national food systems,” Ms. Ekoue stated.
Dr. Fatima Aliyu, National Programme Coordinator of the FG/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, described the certification as a landmark for the women and for Nigerian rice on the continental stage.
“The intervention of the VCDP has empowered these women to a level where they can export their rice to any part of Africa. The quality of their products can compete favourably anywhere on the continent,” Dr. Aliyu said.
The impact on the ground is measurable. One of the award recipients, Mrs. Rachael Ahmed, disclosed that support from the programme had helped her group scale rice processing capacity from 5 metric tonnes to 15 metric tonnes, a threefold increase. She expressed confidence that the award would attract greater investment into rice production and processing in the region.
The Value Chain Development Programme is currently active in 63 local government areas across nine states: Niger, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi. Its stated objective is to improve food security and raise incomes for rural smallholder farmers, processors and marketers.
The certification also aligns with the International Year of Women Farmers and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Kampala Declaration, both of which promote rural enterprise development and women’s inclusion in agricultural growth.
