The Niger Government has inaugurated an initiative to support farmers with inputs for 2024/2025 dry season farming in the state.
Alhaji Musa Bawa-Bosso, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, disclosed this at a town hall meeting held in Gawu, Gurara Local Government Area.
At the town hall meeting held in preparation for the dry season farming, the commissioner said the initiative aimed at boosting food production and ensuring food security in the state and the country.
He said the programme, supported by Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Ltd, targeted farmers across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Bawa-Bosso said the initiative aligned with Gov. Umaru Bago’s agricultural revolution, focusing on grassroots intervention to support farmers with inputs.
“Farmers will receive support to cultivate rice, maize and vegetable repayable with harvested produce or low-interest credit.
“Farmers must form cooperatives to benefit from the initiative,” he said.
Mrs Patience Koku, the Executive Director of Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Ltd, assured farmers of the needed support to revolutionise agriculture.
She said the company would assist farmers to harness the state’s vast arable land in line with New Niger Agenda.
Koku said that through the initiative, farmers would receive agricultural inputs on loan, repayable with harvested produce or low-interest credit.
She, however, regretted that a similar initiative during the previous dry season farming suffered setbacks because of farmers’ dishonesty, resulting in losses exceeding N300 million.
“Despite mechanising 2,000 hectares, fewer than 300 farmers participated. Niger Foods also incurred losses due to farmers absconding with solar pumps given to them,’’ she said.
Koku said steps would be taken to ensure that only genuine farmers would be supported.
Dr Mathew Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry for Agriculture, urged the farmers to sensitise their colleague to the benefits of the initiative, aimed at supporting poor and local communities.
He appealed to council chairmen to take ownership of the project, urging them to work together with Directors of agriculture and extension agents to identify genuine farmers.
The Managing Director, Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Agency (NAMDA), Alhaji Mohammed Baba, said the agency’s extension agents would work closely with farmers to guide them on best practices.
Dr Hassana Garba, Deputy Director, Extension Services in NAMDA, outlined requirements for farmers to benefit from the dry season intervention.
According to her, to participate, farmers must have nearby water access, gives their full names, gender, date of birth, phone number, identification card, farm size and Global Positioning System (GPS).
In his remarks, Chairman of Gurara Local Government Council, Abdul-Alim Bonu, represented by his secretary, pledged to mobilise genuine farmers from the council to key into the initiative.
NAN reports that participants at the meeting included farmers from various associations and cooperatives, traditional and religious leaders, council chairmen, amongst others. (NAN)
