Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago has met with President Bola Tinubu on his plans for expanded farming in the state this year.
According to Bago, Niger State aims to farm 500,000 hectares of land in 2024, matching the federal government’s goal outlined by President Tinubu in his recent new year’s address.
He said the state has positioned itself as a pilot for the national agriculture project.
The governor noted that Niger State is already underway with 250,000 hectares of dry season farming through partnerships with private companies.
He said, “Yes! First and foremost, I came to greet my father. And secondly, as you know, Niger State is now the leading state in terms of the food security initiative of Mr. President.
“And there are some initiatives we have started we are about to do a total of 250,000 hectares dry season farming, which we have already signed an agreement with some companies for off take and just to keep him up to speed with what we are doing in agriculture.
“The federal government if you have listened carefully to Mr. president’s new year’s speech, you will have seen the emphasis on agriculture.
“And also, the 500,000 hectares the government is planning to farm this 2024. Niger State has also provided itself as a pilot state for that project, and that we are also ambitious to also match with the federal government 500,000 for 500,000.
He noted that farmers are already back working their land in Niger State, as improved security has enabled a return to the fields.
