ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State Government has signed a N2.5 billion agreement with the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to cultivate 100,000 hectares of farmland, focusing on the production of rice, soya beans, maize, and sesame.
The initiative seeks to boost dry-season farming across the state.
The agreement, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and empowering smallholder farmers, was signed at the NADF headquarters in Abuja.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago and Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Usman signed on behalf of the state, while NADF Executive Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim and the agency’s legal counsel signed for NADF.
Under the terms of the agreement, both the Niger State Government and NADF will contribute N2.5 billion each toward the development of the 100,000 hectares of land.
Niger Foods, a key partner in the project, will provide mechanized farming equipment and other resources, benefiting approximately 49,000 smallholder farmers in the state.
Governor Bago described the partnership as historic and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to leveraging its resources to help Nigeria achieve food security.
“This agreement is a significant step forward in our efforts to feed the nation. Niger State is already on track to meet these goals, and this partnership with NADF will bring long-term prosperity to the state,” Bago said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NADF, Muhammad Ibrahim, commended Governor Bago for his dedication to advancing the agricultural sector, noting that Niger State’s agricultural potential made it an ideal partner.
He also revealed that NADF had secured a multi-million-dollar agreement with a French investment agency to support the project through technology transfer, with N100 million already committed to feasibility studies in the state.
