The Niger State Government targets two million farmers in its agricultural revolution strategy after signing a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bayer AG.
The signing of the agreement took place on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring meetings in Washington, DC, USA.
The partnership is under the shared vision of 'Feeding the Nation' for the state government and 'Health for All, Hunger for None,' for the multinational company.
According to the MoU, the multinational company is expected to provide innovations in agriculture so as to improve food production in line with the "feed the nation" policy of the present administration in the state.
On the other hand, the Niger State government, through Niger Foods Limited, would spearhead an efficient and profitable agribusiness with a focus on maize, soy beans, tomatoes, and onions, among others, using about 500,000 hectares of land.
The collaboration, which will be carried out in phases, will be guided by a progressive and sustainable strategy of 1/10/100.
The deal will also boost global market access for the state, leading to significant economic growth, which will not only be beneficial to Niger State but to Nigeria in general.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Science, and Sustainability at Bayer AG, Matthias Berninger, both agreed at the event that the partnership will be of immense benefit to Niger State and Nigeria, especially in supporting environmental resilience and productivity, ensuring food safety, and promoting economic growth.