Niger State, Nigeria’s largest state by landmass, is a area blessed with immense pure and agricultural sources. With over 76,000 sq. kilometres of land, of which 85 p.c is arable, and beneficial weather conditions, it has lengthy held the potential to grow to be the nation’s agricultural powerhouse. Recognising this, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, fondly often known as the “Farmer Governor,” has launched into an formidable agricultural revolution reworking the state’s economic system and society.
By harnessing the state’s agricultural potential, Governor Bago’s administration is guaranteeing meals safety, creating jobs, stimulating financial development, and paving the best way for sustainable growth. Early estimates point out that these efforts may add over N200 billion yearly to the state’s Gross Home Product (GDP) and create a million jobs inside 5 years.
Upon assuming workplace, Governor Bago outlined a transparent imaginative and prescient: to leverage Niger State’s agricultural comparative benefit for the good thing about its folks and the nation at massive. Central to this imaginative and prescient was the creation of Niger Meals Safety Programs and Logistics Restricted (Niger Meals Restricted), a state-owned non-public enterprise established to facilitate agricultural investments, transition farmers from subsistence to mechanised farming, and drive the state’s formidable “Feed the Nation” agenda.
This enterprise is a cornerstone for modernising agriculture within the state, offering a structured platform to draw native and overseas investments whereas guaranteeing farming practices align with international requirements. By aligning its initiatives with the federal authorities’s Nationwide Meals Coverage, Niger State has positioned itself as an indispensable participant in Nigeria’s meals safety technique, striving to fulfil the twin purpose of feeding its folks and contributing to the nation’s agricultural exports.
Inside a 12 months of assuming workplace, Governor Bago’s administration has made vital strides, laying the muse for a complete agricultural transformation. A strategic partnership with international agricultural equipment big John Deere has enabled the acquisition of superior farming tools, together with 200 tractors, 50 planters, 30 energy tillers, and solar-powered irrigation techniques. What units this aside is the progressive cost system that enables the state to pay for these instruments in farm produce, guaranteeing monetary sustainability and highlighting the administration’s dedication to maximising worth from its agricultural output.
Moreover, commissioning a Particular Agro-Processing Zone on the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Worldwide Airport in Minna marks a major leap ahead. This facility, able to processing 1000’s of tonnes of crops yearly, promotes worth addition by processing uncooked agricultural supplies domestically, thereby lowering post-harvest losses, creating jobs, and enhancing the general profitability of the agricultural sector.
The state has developed 1000’s of hectares of farmland into mechanised farm estates to broaden agricultural manufacturing. These estates give attention to cultivating high-demand crops reminiscent of rice, maize, soybeans, and sesame. As an illustration, over 10,000 hectares have been allotted for rice manufacturing alone, doubtlessly yielding over 40,000 metric tonnes yearly. Designed to combine trendy farming practices, these estates are geared up with important social facilities to make sure the consolation and productiveness of employees.
On the identical time, peasant farmers will not be left behind; they’re supported with agricultural inputs, coaching, and entry to mechanised instruments to combine seamlessly into this technique. Recognising the significance of employees’ well-being, the administration, in partnership with the Niger State Contributory Healthcare Company (NiCare), launched an inexpensive medical insurance scheme tailor-made for farm employees. This scheme covers 350,000 households and ensures that agricultural employees have entry to high quality healthcare companies, a crucial think about boosting each productiveness and morale inside the agricultural workforce.
The administration has additionally taken decisive steps to make sure equitable entry to sources and alternatives throughout the state. Fertilisers, herbicides, improved seedlings, and farming instruments have been distributed throughout the state’s three senatorial districts. These efforts are complemented by monetary empowerment initiatives which have seen over 5,000 farmers obtain grants of N100,000 every, together with superior farming instruments and expertise reminiscent of Level of Gross sales (PoS) machines and smartphones to reinforce their productiveness and profitability.
Girls, usually missed in agricultural discussions, have been a precedence for the administration’s focused initiatives. Over 10,000 ladies have been educated and empowered to play energetic roles within the agricultural worth chain. A further N1 billion has been allotted to allow extra ladies to learn from the “Nigeria for Girls” venture. In collaboration with the All Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria (AFAN), the state has additional supported farmers with agricultural inputs price N30 billion for dry season farming. These measures intention to spice up meals manufacturing, improve productiveness, and foster sustainable partnerships, demonstrating the administration’s dedication to gender equality in agriculture.
The administration recognises that neighborhood assist is essential for the success of its insurance policies. In depth sensitisation campaigns have been performed to safe public buy-in. These campaigns have been instrumental in recovering grazing lands and reserves, which are actually redirected towards agricultural manufacturing, underscoring the significance of neighborhood involvement within the agricultural revolution.
The state internet hosting its first Inexperienced Summit introduced collectively over 1,000 stakeholders to debate sustainable agricultural practices, setting the stage for future collaborations and improvements. Moreover, partnerships with native and worldwide traders have expanded the scope of agricultural actions past crop manufacturing to incorporate livestock farming, aquaculture, and different specialised agricultural ventures. As an illustration, the continued discussions with overseas traders intention to ascertain a state-of-the-art aquaculture facility producing 5,000 tonnes of fish yearly. These initiatives replicate the administration’s holistic method to maximising the state’s agricultural potential.
–Dr Ukachukwu, a public affairs and communication professional, wrote from Lagos
One of many administration’s most notable achievements is the “Produce-for-Lagos” initiative, a groundbreaking settlement between Niger State and Lagos State. Underneath this association, Niger State provides meals objects reminiscent of rice, grains, and legumes to Lagos’ large Meals Logistics Hub in Epe, guaranteeing a gradual marketplace for its farmers whereas strengthening inter-state collaboration. This partnership not solely enhances meals safety in Lagos but in addition supplies a dependable income stream for Niger State’s farmers, additional incentivising agricultural manufacturing.
The administration’s skill to draw overseas traders has added one other dimension to its agricultural revolution. Plans are underway to discover livestock farming, aquaculture, and different specialised ventures. These partnerships underline the administration’s dedication to diversifying its agricultural portfolio and boosting the state’s financial prospects.
Clear and measurable objectives drive Governor Bago’s agricultural insurance policies. These embody cultivating all obtainable arable land in Niger State, reaching meals self-sufficiency, positioning the state as a internet exporter of agricultural produce, creating a million jobs over 5 years with a give attention to empowering ladies and youth, and stimulating the state’s GDP by way of agriculture-driven financial development.
The administration additionally seeks to make sure sustainable rural growth and prosperity for its residents. These targets will not be merely aspirational however grounded in actionable plans and measurable progress. As an illustration, with 142,623 farmers enrolled within the Federal Authorities’s Agro Pocket Initiative, the state is on monitor to realize vital milestones in dry season farming.
In only one 12 months, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s administration has laid a stable basis for an agricultural revolution in Niger State. By prioritising mechanisation, fostering strategic partnerships, and empowering farmers, the administration has boosted the state’s economic system and created alternatives for sustainable growth and prosperity.
As Niger State continues its journey to turning into Nigeria’s agricultural hub, the progress achieved up to now is a testomony to the imaginative and prescient, willpower, and progressive spirit of the “Farmer Governor.” With continued dedication and innovation, the specified transformation just isn’t solely inside attain but in addition guarantees a brighter, extra affluent future for Niger State and its folks.
