Farmers to get farm inputs

In its effort to boost food production, the Niger State government has launched the distribution of farm inputs and essential assets to 2,384 farmers. Governor Umaru Bago said at the launch in Minna that the distribution was the Nigeria Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) Result Area 2. Bago, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, called on everyone to key into the New Niger Agenda by embracing farming to transform the state’s economy.

“Distribution of these inputs is a demonstration of our commitment to a New Niger Agenda, and the objective is to diversify our economy and ensure food security. The governor has introduced a mechanised farming system in the state; we should utilise the God-given potential to make the state a competitive one in wealth creation”, he said. He disclosed that distributing essential assets and tools was a step towards transforming the agriculture sector by making farming attractive in the state. Earlier, Salihu Bawa, Commissioner for Agriculture in Niger, said 2,384 farmers will benefit from 1,951 crops, 133 aquaculture and 300 poultry.

He said that farmers’ under crops will be supported with 292.65 mt of NPK and urea fertilisers, 17.03 mt of rice, 3,902 mt of maise and sorghum seeds, and 1,951 litres of herbicide and insecticide. Bawa added that those under poultry and aquaculture would get 15,000 day-old chicks, 26,600 fingerlings, and 1.732 tons of assorted feeds. He said labour-intensive infrastructural facilities were being rehabilitated, adding that 10,487 people, comprising 7,505 males and 2,982 females, would have access to agricultural infrastructure, as part of the incentive. The commissioner added that 2,183 beneficiaries would be provided with agricultural, productive and processing assets.