African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and  Federal Government , on Wednesday commissioned Nigeria’s first Confined Field Trial (CFT) facility for the production of a genetically improved African rice variety.

It is known as Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant (NEWEST) rice and is aimed at addressing the country's  food challenge.

The Acting Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Mr. Abayomi Oguntunde, Director, Bio-Resources Technology, Federal Ministry of Science Technology, and the Executive Director, AATF, Mr. Dennis Kyetere who spoke at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), in Badeggi, Niger state, averred that the project is aimed at increasing food productivity in the continent and in Nigeria in particular.

CEOAfrica source however, gathered from AATF Project Coordinator, Mr. Kayode Solomon, that the technology will be used from 2016, in accelerating the product that will be developed.