To help Agriculture and Employment, Gov. Bago has promised to give farmers their “counterpart funds

In order to increase food security and employment opportunities for the people of Niger State, the government has promised to pay all outstanding counterpart money in the Agriculture sector.

At the launch and distribution of 2023 Wet Season Agro-Input by the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme VCDP, Additional Financing in Minna, the state governor, Muhammad Umar Bago, made the promise.

The governor, through his deputy Yakubu Garba, praised the state’s partnership with IFAD-/VCDP, saying it has helped increase the number of people who are able to participate in the state’s economy and increase their income.

According to a recent research conducted by the Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Zaria, the state is presently classified as the top producer of rice in the country thanks to a partnership with IFAD -VCDP.

“We are committed to growing the partnership with FGN/IFAD VCDP to provide Agro-Inputs, Agro-processing equipment, and simple farm implements to rural smallholder farmers in all of the state’s LGAs each year in an effort to boost agricultural output.”

The Governor further assured IFAD employees that their salaries would be covered by his government.

But he cautioned those who received farming equipment not to sell it, but rather to use it to boost output and income.

Dr. Fatima K. Aliyu, National Coordinator, FGN IFAD, VCDP, had previously requested that Niger State pay its counterpart financing in order to gain access to further funding and to settle the state’s salary arrears.

She also said that IFAD had approved $3.5 million to be used to help farmers in Niger and Kogi States become more resilient to the effects of climate change.