Niger State Rice Processors Win ARSO Quality Mark Award

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), presented the ARSO Quality Mark Award to rice processors in Niger State, acknowledging their compliance with African food safety standards. The award ceremony took place in Abuja, where Dr.

Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry, praised the processors for their dedication and hard work in achieving this recognition. He highlighted that quality is essential for market access and consumer confidence in a competitive agricultural ecosystem.

The Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) aims to promote quality assurance among smallholder farmers and agro-processors. Dr.

Ogunbiyi also noted that the partnership with IFAD has significantly improved the livelihoods of rural farming households. The event underscored the need for continuous improvement and adherence to best practices within the agricultural sector to enhance product quality and reduce post-harvest losses.