Niger State Acting Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, announced an anticipated bumper harvest of vital staple crops this farming season, attributing this to significant investments made by the state government under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
Speaking at the official flag-off of the 2024 FADAMA N-CARES Agro-inputs and assets distribution, held at the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA) office complex in Minna, Comrade Yakubu highlighted the administration's commitment to agricultural development. This initiative, part of the New Niger Agenda, aims to boost food production, stimulate agro-industrialisation, and create employment opportunities.
The N-CARES program, designed to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural livelihoods, enhances farmers' resilience and facilitates faster recovery. "This initiative will enhance the government's capacity to support vulnerable families and facilitate the recovery of local economic activities across Nigeria. Our ultimate goal is to increase food security, sustain the safe functioning of food supply chains, and bring hope and optimism for a brighter future," said the acting governor.
He also reiterated the administration's dedication to attracting investments and supporting development partners' interventions in various aspects of the agricultural value chain.
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Salihu Bawa Bosso, emphasised the FADAMA N-CARES program's role in restoring the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable and maintaining food security. He noted that the inputs distribution was timely, considering the resumption of rain after a long dry spell.
The beneficiaries include 13,600 farmers who will receive crops, aquaculture, and poultry inputs, and 30,000 individuals from internally displaced camps (IDPs) and flood victims who will benefit from food assistance. Additionally, 37,500 farmers will gain enhanced access to agricultural infrastructure through the implementation of 173 projects, including access roads, culverts, mini bridges, solar boreholes with overhead tanks, solar water pumps, and drainages. Furthermore, 13,400 farmers and processors will benefit from production and processing assets such as tractors, power tillers, rice millers, hammer mills, rice destoners, hand reapers, multi-purpose threshers, rice transplanters, and small ruminants.
The commissioner urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to recover from previous losses. The event also featured goodwill messages from NAMDA, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Niger State, and representatives of the beneficiaries. The highlight was the symbolic presentation of some inputs to the beneficiaries by the Acting Governor, supported by the Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago, the state Head of Service, Engr. Abubakar Salihu, and the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Salihu Bawa Bosso.