The second international conference on Rice for Food Market and Development is slated to hold from March 6 to 8 in Abuja.

Managing Director of Rice Africa, a Pan-African organisation, Dr. Edwin Idu, who revealed this when he called on the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, in her office on Tuesday, said that the international conference was an annual event for developing rice promoters' capacities in Africa.

Idu said: "We are expecting over 600 participants from Japan and other Asian countries, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and other African countries. The conference is aimed at encouraging new ideas and innovative approaches relevant to delivery of rice value chain.

"The conference will also discuss rice service delivery research and development strategies that meet the changing needs of smallholder rice farmers under a range of rice sector development scenarios."