Nigeria, Sept. 9 -- In 2024, Abu Ibrahim raised one million naira and invested it in rice farming in the Orun-Igbemo community of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The community is famous for producing 'Ofada' rice, also called 'Igbemo' rice.

It is an upland rice grown on dry, non-puddled soils. Farmers often rely on rainfall for its growth. It is a common farming practice in the South-West Nigerian state, and especially amongst the people of Orun and Igbemo.

"I planted two hectares. We expected rain in April, but it didn't come until the following month. Then it rained once and stopped for over 15 days," the 28-year-old Mr Ibrahim recalled. "The rice spoiled under the ground, and there was nothing to harvest."

In May, PREMIUM TIMES visited severa...