Niger State Government has forwarded the data of one hundred and forty two thousand, six hundred and twenty-three (142,623) farmers as beneficiaries of the Agro Pocket Initiative of the Federal Government.
The National Agricultural Growth initiative which aim is to increasing food productivity, improvement and delivery of farming inputs among others, will use Niger state for a start up experiment.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Musa Salihu Bawa made the confirmation during the post Executive Council Press briefing at the Government House, Minna.
Salihu Bawa explained that the data sent to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security contained ninety six thousand (96,000) rice farmers; twenty three thousand, two hundred (23,200) maize farmers; and twenty three thousand, four hundred and twenty-three (23,423) Cassava farmers for dry season farming.
Salihu Bawa enumerated some measures being evolved by the State government towards making the State the Food hub of the Nation, including the recent delivery of three hundred (300) tractors and two hundred (200) power tillers, adding that more tractors and power tillers including planters, harvesters, among other farm inputs would be brought into the state soon.
The Commissioner explained the tractors, power tillers and other farm inputs that are being supplied by John Deere are in line with the Memorandum of Understanding earlier signed with the State Government.
He said the tractors would be paid with farm produce such as sesame, maize, rice and soya beans instead of cash as the state government will off-take from the farmers, adding that the profit would then be shared sixty to forty (60/40) percent base on ratio three to two (3:2) between the State government and the farmers respectively.
