GRMI Trains Niger Rice Farmers, Distributes Flood-Tolerant Seeds to Reduce

The Geohazards Risk Mapping Initiative (GRMI), a Nigeria-based non-profit organisation, has trained rice farmers in Katcha Ward, Niger State, on climate-smart agriculture and distributed flood-tolerant rice seeds to help reduce losses caused by recurring floods.

The intervention, carried out on July 10, 2026, provided 20 members of the local farmers’ association with 10 kilograms each of FARO 67, a rice variety designed to withstand temporary flooding.

The farmers also received practical training on improved cultivation methods, crop management and seed preservation as part of efforts to strengthen their resilience to climate-related risks.

GRMI said the initiative combines scientific flood-risk mapping with climate-resilient farming practices to help vulnerable communities prepare for and reduce the impact of recurring floods.

Speaking on the intervention, GRMI Founder, Taiwo Ogunwumi, said the organisation was focused on translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions for communities affected by climate-related disasters.

He said farmers often bear the consequences of recurring floods despite years of reports and recommendations, stressing the need to turn flood-risk information into timely action.

Ogunwumi said Katcha was selected because of its high vulnerability to flooding and its importance as a rice-producing community.

The FARO 67 variety distributed to the farmers contains the SUB1A gene, which enables rice plants to survive complete submergence for up to two weeks and recover after floodwaters recede.

The variety was released in Nigeria in 2017 through a conventional breeding programme led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Africa Rice Centre, in collaboration with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi.

GRMI’s Head of Research and Innovation, Kayode Adeniyi, said the intervention followed an analysis of flooding patterns in Katcha using radar imagery from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites.

According to him, GRMI analysed flood data from 2020 to 2025 and found that about 65 per cent of the ward’s land is used for rice cultivation, leaving large portions of the farming areas vulnerable to severe flooding.

Adeniyi said advances in cloud-based geospatial technology and artificial intelligence had reduced the time required to process satellite imagery, making it easier to generate flood-risk information for timely interventions.

He stressed that technology should be used to address real challenges facing vulnerable communities, particularly by helping farmers access resilient seeds and prepare for floods before they occur.

Also speaking, GRMI Field Project Manager, Hussaini Usman, said the organisation would monitor the performance of FARO 67 throughout the growing season.

He said GRMI would work with the farmers to document how the variety performs under local conditions and assess its ability to withstand flooding.

Katcha, located on the floodplains of the River Niger, has experienced repeated flooding in recent years, resulting in significant losses for farmers.

Among those affected are Idris Mohammed, who lost two hectares of rice during last year’s floods, and Nda Bala, whose expected harvest dropped from about 30 bags of paddy to eight bags after floodwaters submerged his farm.

GRMI said the intervention supports Nigeria’s commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by promoting disaster preparedness and strengthening community resilience before disasters occur.

The organisation also plans to collaborate with the National Cereals Research Institute and the local farmers’ cooperative to multiply seeds harvested during the current season.

The move is expected to make flood-tolerant rice varieties more accessible to farmers in other flood-prone communities across Niger State.