Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has flagged off the distribution of the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant under the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD/VCDP), supported by the United Nations.
Represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, Bago also presided over the graduation of youths trained in the fabrication of agricultural equipment at the ceremony in Minna.
He said Niger is one of only two states selected for the ASAP grant, which builds on the achievements of the IFAD/VCDP in rice and cassava production across nine local government areas. According to him, the intervention will boost smallholders’ capacity to adapt to climate change, expand arable land, and promote climate-resilient agriculture.
Bago assured that his administration will sustain prompt payment of counterpart funds and called for the inclusion of more local governments in the programme. He congratulated the beneficiaries, urging them to use the grants and starter packs to improve livelihoods and create jobs.
National VCDP Coordinator, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, said the ASAP grant targets 24,000 farmers nationwide, with Niger accounting for 18,700 beneficiaries, including women. She listed the areas of support to include climate-resilient planting materials, soil conservation, renewable energy solutions, water access, and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
Beneficiaries in Niger received cassava peel conversion machines, rice husk briquette machines, solar-powered irrigation pumps, power tillers, laptops, and phones for climate information. Starter packs were also given to 45 trained youths across nine LGAs.
