The Niger State Government has secured a two point five billion naira agreement with the National Agricultural Development Fund NADF for the cultivation of Rice, Soya Bean, Maize and Sesame in the next dry season farming.
The agreement was signed at the NADF Ofiice, Bank of Agriculture Headquarters Abuja.
Farmer Governor Umaru Bago and Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Usman signed on behalf of the State Government while the Executive Secretary NADF Government Muhammad Ibrahim and the Legal Counsel of Agency signed on behalf of the the NADF.
The long term collaborative agreement is for the development of 100,000 hectares of land across the State for cultivation of variety of crops where both the Niger State Government and the NAFC is to bring in N2.5b each.
Niger Foods is expected to supply all the incentives and mechanised farming equipment needed for the project which will empower about 49,000 smallholder farmers..
Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago who described the agreement as historic reiterated that Niger State Government will continue to harness its resources to achieve the target of feeding the Nation explaining that, the State is already well on course in that regard.
He said, the partnership with National Agricultural Development Fund is promising as the State Government is ready to meet up with the requirements agreed upon which will in the long run, bring prosperity to the State.
The Executive Secretary and CEO National Agricultural Development Fund, Muhammad Ibrahim who commended Farmer Governor Umaru Bago for his tremendous strides in the Agricultural sector said, Niger State has the potentials in Agriculture which is why the Agency chose to partner with the State through Niger Foods.
He disclosed that, in line with the Agency’s mandate of Coordinating International donor funding towards agriculture, it has secured a multi million dollar agreement with a French investment Agency who deals with technology transfer and have already committed N100m to carry out feasibility studies in the State.
