In an effort to achieve the food security and sufficient agenda of the Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Niger State Chapter is mobilizing one million smallholder farmers across the 25 local government areas of the State for the 2024 wet season farming.
This was disclosed by the AFAN Chairman Niger State Chapter, Alh.Shehu Galadima during the quarterly meeting of the Association with all the local government Coordinators and other stakeholders of the Association in Minna and to declare the beginning of wet season farming for 2024.
Alh. Galadima explained that the Association will focus on cash and food crops such as Rice, maize, soya beans, millet, sorghum, cowpea, sesame, cassava and yam with an expected output of 4 million metric tons of food for this year’s wet season.
He said the State Government has adopted measures through the State Ministry of Agriculture, and Niger Foods Ltd, to support the smallholder farmers who are in clusters to ensure bumper harvest thereby boosting their economic status.
Speaking on the issue of security, the AFAN Chairman said the State government is not leaving any stone unturned to provide safety for farmers and even all citizens of the State.
He then called on smallholder farmers to judiciously utilize whatever support that would be given to them by the government to achieve the desired objectives.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alh. Musa Bawa Bosso described the meeting as apt, adding that the State Government is diligently making efforts to realize food security and sufficiency.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, the Commissioner said a training would be organized for all heads of the cluster groups to equip them with new farming techniques and innovation to increase their yields.
He said the Umaru Bago-led administration has lined up so many agricultural programmes that would be of immense benefits to farmers.
The Commissioner disclosed that the State Government will train 2,500 farmers from Paikoro, Bosso, Wushishi and Mokwà Local Government Areas on Carbon Credit in line with global best practices.
The Community Engagement Officer, Niger Foods Ltd, Muhammad Danjuma assured the small holders farmers of their support especially in terms of farm inputs.
The event culminated with the inauguration of the Office of the Young Farmers Association of Nigeria (YFAN), Niger State Chapter where the State Coordinator, Muhammad Kabiru Danbaba expressed delight with the development pointing out that youth engagement in Agriculture would address unemployment and youth restiveness among others in the society.
Bologi Ibrahim
Chief Press Secretary
to the Governor of Niger State.
