Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that the State Government will provide incentives that will crash down the prices of food items for the Ramadan Season.
Governor Umaru Bago stated this when he received a delegation from the Gates Foundation on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House Minna.
The Governor said the move is to ensure that foodstuff are affordable to the people and disclosed that the State has harvested over one million metric tons of maize adding that through Niger Foods, the State has stabilized the price of food items in the Country.
Governor Umaru Bago who re assured the Gates Foundation of his administration’s continued partnership called on the Foundation to strengthen its relationship with the State on crop and livestock production, aquaculture and housing to change the fortunes of the people as the State aims to move from one cropping season to 3 cropping seasons in a Year.
He equally emphasized on the need to have collaborative venture in terms of irrigation which he described as a venture that can be of great advantage in the areas of Crop production and to address climate change.
Leader of the Agricultural development work, Gates Foundation, Obai Khalifa said since the inception of the foundation 25 years ago, they have been committed to the mission of adding value to lives describing agriculture as vital not just in the security point of view but also from a the nutritional value.
He identified the challenge of underfunding of agriculture and climate change as major factors affecting agriculture in Africa pointing out that the Foundation is out to address those challenges and be part of Nigeria’s drive in agriculture transformation.
The Senior Program Agric Development, Gates Foundation in Africa, Audu Grema applauded Governor Umaru Bago for his investment in the agricultural sector describing it as an avenue to take people out of poverty.
Chairman Niger Foods Sammy Adigun in his remarks described the partnership with Gates Foundation remains a key factor in the agricultural transformation of the Governor.
