Scale the Nigeria Youth in Rice Agribusiness Program to Expand Youth Employment in the Rice Value Chain

Situation

In Nigeria, priority demand is recorded across Niger Delta and North-East states, within the domain of Mechanisation, Post-Harvest & Processing, focusing on Rice value chain (post-harvest / agribusiness). Primary beneficiaries include youth agripreneurs and women rice processors in niger delta and north-east nigeria.

Extracted Evidence

200+ parboiling enterprises supported in Nigeria; women = 60-80% of rice post-harvest labor force in Sub-Saharan Africa vs 40%+ AfricaRice female-beneficiary target 500+ youth agripreneurs trained in Nigeria (2023).

Intelligence

When an expressed demand in Niger Delta and North-East states is rated High with a priority score of 9.2/10 (Act tier), the limiting factor is scaling and investment reach. Sustaining action within current perimeters leaves the wider crisis unaddressed. Expanding coordinated response across Private Sector & Industry, Producers & Local Communities, Research & Scientific Institutions is the strategic imperative.

Demand Signal

This demand is classified as an Expressed Demand, formally stated through AfricaRice Center (CGIAR). It carries signal type(s): Program Demand, Scaling Demand. Demand strength is rated High. Priority score: 9.2 out of 10. Response tier: Act.

Demand Description

The Nigeria Youth in Rice Agribusiness Program has trained only 500+ youth and supported 200+ parboiling enterprises, a small footprint relative to Nigeria's overall rice sector (4.5 million MT production, 60% self-sufficiency) and the 60-80% female share of post-harvest labor that falls short of AfricaRice's 40% female-beneficiary target. AfricaRice's Nigeria Youth in Rice Agribusiness Program, active in the Niger Delta and North-East states, trained 500+ youth agripreneurs in 2023 and has supported 200+ parboiling enterprises in Nigeria, where women make up 60-80% of the rice post-harvest labor force (against an organization-wide target of 40% female beneficiaries).

Demand Gap

Gap type: Production & Productivity Gap.

The Nigeria Youth in Rice Agribusiness Program has trained only 500+ youth and supported 200+ parboiling enterprises, a small footprint relative to Nigeria's overall rice sector (4.5 million MT production, 60% self-sufficiency) and the 60-80% female share of post-harvest labor that falls short of AfricaRice's 40% female-beneficiary target.

Gap Signal

200+ parboiling enterprises supported in Nigeria; women = 60-80% of rice post-harvest labor force in Sub-Saharan Africa vs 40%+ AfricaRice female-beneficiary target 500+ youth agripreneurs trained in Nigeria (2023).

Stakeholders and Target Group

Source

Document

AfricaRice Annual Report 2023 (Research Report, 2023).

Organisation

AfricaRice Center (CGIAR)

Citation

AfricaRice Center. 2023. Annual Report 2023. Read the primary source