Many farmers in the north are on the brink of financial ruin as the region suffers from the worst drought in 70 years. Italy's so-called "golden rice triangle" accounts for half of Europe's rice production. DW's Max Zander reports.

On the 23rd of January, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the rice pyramid in Abuja. The unveling came with a lot of criticisms with industry players saying that the pyramid doesn’t match up with the present reality. Weeks after the showcase, the rice pyramids are now disappearing.⁣ ⁣

Rice is a major priority crop in West Africa. Nearly 16 million tons are consumed annually. The region wants to become independent of rice imports, but many farmers lack the right tools to achieve that goal.

The Muslim community in India is often a target of misinformation spread by Hindu nationalists. The latest accusation is that Muslims are carrying out "rice jihad". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

 

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RPAN) wants the government to empower law enforcement agencies to go to markets and shops to arrest anyone found with foreign rice. This is in a bid to discourage the smuggling of foreign rice into the country.

Federal Polytechnic Ede complains of destruction of rice farmlands

Thousands of businesses across the world have been forced to close as the coronavirus crisis bites. However, there have been some winners. The rice processing women of Kontagora in Nigeria say business is thriving.

Uncle Ben's rice has rebranded as Ben's Original. The brand announced the name and logo change in an effort to eliminate racist imagery. Following the Black Lives Matter movement, other brands have made similar changes. Meanwhile in France, new restrictive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 have been met with a backlash. Demonstrations will be held in Marseille on Friday as protesters say "no to a reconfinement of the economy".

On May 17, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, delivered 110 truckloads of food items to the Kano State government to be distributed to the vulnerable and less privileged whose means of survival were affected by the lockdown directive.⁣ ⁣ Two weeks later, the food items have not been distributed and have been left to rot in the open.⁣

Here is why you should pick up a copy of The Guardian on Saturday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on the newsstands on Saturday⁣.

Here is why you should pick up a copy of The Guardian on Monday.⁣ Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on the newsstands on Monday.⁣