By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Government is to acquire N500 billion worth of agricultural equipment and implements intended to create over one million jobs.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago stated this during the presentation of land development and preparation equipment at the Brains and Hammers Rice City, Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Farm, Chakwa Community in Wushishi Local Government Area of the State.
The governor, who re-echoed the importance of agriculture, said his administration will engage in public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements to realise the target of the Niger State Agricultural Revolution in line with President Tinubu's agenda for agricultural development and food security.
He said the state government was on the right track to establish the Niger State Strategic Food Reserve and protect land from encroachment.
He then used the forum to encourage youth to engage in agriculture, as the government will commence the disbursement of N250,000 each to youth and women to facilitate their farming activities.
The Managing Director of Brains and Hammers Green, Yakubu Aliyu, said the farm has, in the last six years of its existence, achieved tremendous success in agricultural development, pointing out that land development and preparation have been the bane of wealth creation.
He commended the governor's commitment to agricultural development in the state and expressed optimism that his policies would improve the sector.
In their separate remarks, the Traditional Head of Wushishi, Shehu Ibrahim Abubakar, the Chairman of Wushishi Local Government Council, Muhammad Kpoti Yelwa, and the Niger State Coordinator, USAID Feed the Future and Agricultural Extension Services, Desmond Umukoro, commended Governor Umaru Bago for his developmental strides and his efforts to involve the private sector to improve agriculture in the state.
The high point of the event was the inspection of different farm machinery by touring the rice irrigation fields and warehouse, including the processing units and animal husbandry.

By

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said agriculture will be the main revenue drive of the state by exploring all the potentials in the sector.
The governor stated this when he received 50 graduates of the Enterprise for Youths in Agriculture (EYiA) Project from Niger State at the Government House, Minna.
He congratulated them on the feat attained and said they were coming at the right time when his administration was focusing on repositioning the agricultural sector of the state.
He disclosed that the state will employ them for six months with Niger Foods, a new project to ensure food sustainability, where they will be paid a monthly stipend of 100,000 naira each in addition to the N20 million given as a token for doing the state proud.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment Programme, Hauwa Bako Muhammad, said the three months of rigorous training the youth underwent in soilless farming in Ogun State have prepared them to add value to the agricultural development of the state.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Esther Samuel, appreciated the support of the governor for facilitating the training and solicited the inclusion of women in the quest to ensure food security.
The 50 graduates of the EYiA Project from Niger State were among several other participants from across the country that participated in a three-month training in Ogun State that focused on soilless farming and hydroponics.