Impact of access to subsidized certified improved rice seed on income: evidence from rice farming households in Nigeria

Seed certification enhances seed quality and has the potential to increase rice yield and improve farmers’ income. Rice farmers in Nigeria were granted access to certified improved rice seed at a subsidized rate using the seed voucher system by the Emergency Rice Initiative (2008-2010), formulated by AfricaRice, in response to the global food crisis of 2008, in order to mitigate the adverse effects on poor farmers.