18,700 Farmers Targeted For Improved Agriculture In Niger

Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has flagged off the distribution of the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant targeting 18,700 farmers.

The programme is under the Federal Government International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD/VCDP), supported by the United Nations.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, performed the ceremony and the graduation of youths trained on the fabrication of agricultural equipment in Minna.

He noted that Niger State was among two states selected for the ASAP grant, which is an additional financing programme following the tremendous achievement of the FGN/IFAD/VCDP recorded in addressing challenges associated with the production, processing, and marketing of rice and cassava across nine local government areas in the state.

The governor said the intervention was timely and in line with the administration’s desire to revolutionise agriculture in the state.

He said the intervention will increase the capacity of smallholders to cope with the overwhelming effects of climate change and support the expansion of arable land through climate-resilient activities, among others.

He appreciated the federal government and the IFAD/VCDP for recognising the efforts of the state government in the agricultural sector, promising that government will sustain its prompt payment of its counterpart contributions, and appealed for the inclusion of more local government areas in the state.

The national programme coordinator of VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said VCDP has made a remarkable impact in promoting youth entrepreneurship, empowering women, and mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture.

She explained that the ASAP grant is designed to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers against the adverse impact of climate change with a target of 24,000 beneficiaries, out of which Niger State has 18,700 farmers, including women.

The national coordinator said the intervention covers the distribution of climate-resilient planting materials; soil conservation and erosion control; waste-to-wealth initiatives; improved access to water resources; and renewable energy solutions, among others.

Starter packs were also distributed to 45 trained youths across nine local government areas in the state.