Consumption of whole-grain rice in Nigeria extremely low – Report

A new report released on Wednesday has shown that consumption of whole-grain rice in Nigeria remains extremely low, despite a seven per cent year-on-year rise in the consumption of refined rice. The pattern, experts warn is worsening the country’s triple burden of malnutrition. The findings emerged from Nigeria’s first large-scale consumer research on fortified whole […]

A new report released on Wednesday has shown that consumption of whole-grain rice in Nigeria remains extremely low, despite a seven per cent year-on-year rise in the consumption of refined rice.

The pattern, experts warn is worsening the country’s triple burden of malnutrition.

The findings emerged from Nigeria’s first large-scale consumer research on fortified whole grains, conducted between 2024 and 2025, and disseminated at a workshop organised in Abuja by the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA) in collaboration with TechnoServe Nigeria.

The workshop brought together representatives of the Federal Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Education; the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme; and state officials from Kano and Ogun.

Presenting the report to journalists, FWGA Managing Director, David Kamau, said the study found that the consumption of whole-grain rice in Nigeria is low.

He said the alliance identified four main obstacles including limited availability of whole-grain rice in markets, low consumer acceptability, longer cooking time, and perceptions that whole-grain products are of poor quality or contain stones.

Kamau highlighted the nutritional and environmental benefits of whole grains, adding that “with whole grains, you retain all the nutrients in the rice, including protein and these advantages make whole grains a more sustainable option than refined rice”

He said: “What we have in front of us today is more than research, it’s a roadmap. It shows where the system is working, where it’s stalling, and what it will take to make whole-grains a everyday reality.

“From the research work that has been done, we have seen a significant increase in consumption of refined foods and studies have been done which have shown an association of increased risk of disease, such as non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, and we have seen that increased consumption of whole grain foods then gets to address these challenges of malnutrition.”

Kamau said the findings will inform policy and action, particularly in integrating whole grains into school feeding programmes.

Kamau clarified that the cost of producing whole-grain rice is lower than refined rice, and with increased demand, millers would be willing to supply it at competitive prices.

“One of the channels we are using globally and in Africa is to introduce nutritious whole grains into school meals. We aim to include them in school feeding guidelines and menus to encourage wider consumption.

“When more consumers demand whole grains, production becomes more viable, and the product can reach the market at price parity or even lower than refined rice”, he added.

TechnoServe Nigeria Country Director, Adesuwa Akinboro, said the findings offer crucial insight for evidence-driven policymaking.

“This research helps us understand not just what Nigerians eat, but why. With real consumer insights, we can build policies and markets that make nutritious whole-grain products accessible to every household,” she said.