Nigeria obtains US$3 million to boost maize and rice production

NIGERIA – The Niger State government in Nigeria signed a N5 billion (US$3.2 million) co-financing agreement with the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) 

The signing took place on January 28, 2024. According to the agreement, each party is to contribute an equal amount, half of the total.

“This partnership agreement is a major milestone between NADF and the Niger State Government with each partner providing N2.5bn to fund a large-scale mixed cropping initiative,” Muhammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of NADF stated.

Mr. Ibrahim also said that the project aims to produce rice and corn on 4,000 hectares across three administrative zones of the state, directly involving 4,000 smallholder farmers. As part of this ambition, NADF will provide technical advisory services as well as monitoring and evaluation.

“This agreement aims to produce over 20,000 tonnes of food and impact at least 40,000 people, while generating employment and creating wealth for smallholder farmers and other sections of the population,” Ibrahim, the Executive Governor of Niger State said.

Mr. Ibrahim also added that the event remains very historic in the country’s effort to boost agriculture through joint funding of large hectares of land to produce food and improve food security for the benefit of Nigerians in line with the government’s mandate.

NADF will provide a technical advisory role and monitoring and evaluation of the project, with Niger Foods Company expected to provide off-take and market access responsibilities.

Umar Bago, the Managing Director of Niger State Foods Company said that in line with the President’s Food Security Initiative, it is imperative for the country to achieve food sovereignty.

Bago added that the country has abundant resources, water bodies, and arable land  which must be put to productive use. This initiative, anchored by Niger Foods, represents a bold step in the right direction.

This agreement is part of the drive to strengthen food security and is also expected to help strengthen Niger State’s position as a major supplier of cereals to Nigeria.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the state is the leading producer for maize and rice, recording harvests of 700,000 tonnes and 630,000 tonnes respectively for the two cereals in 2021.

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