2,500 farmers to benefit from Agro-economic Scheme In Niger

From Saka Bolaji, Minna

No fewer than 2,500 farmers in Niger state are to benefit from the pilot scheme of Agro-Economic Empowerment Programme on a Rice Value Chain Development of Agricultural Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN).
The program that is sponsored by Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited a Chevron Company in conjunction with other oil companies in collaboration with the Niger State chapter of AGAN and Niger State government aimed at bringing back the lost glory of agricultural practice in Nigeria has commenced.
The State Coordinator of AGAN, Alhaji Hussaini Iliyasu, who made the disclosure when he addressed newsmen at the weekend in Minna, said that lead farmer concept will be adopted to train the 2,500 farmers in the state. Iliyasu stated that the program will involved women, graduates and youths in the value chain by providing them with technical support to enhanced the economic status of farmers in Niger State.
This is to ensure increased yield in rice production from 2 tons to an average of 5 tons per hectare and increase the annual rice production cycle from one to two cycles per annum, to achieve crop diversification by using tube well technology.
According to Iliyasu, the programme tagged ‘Niger Rice Project’ aims at establishing 50-100 demonstration centres with each having between 20-25 farmers to participate in the direct training on good agricultural practices and farmers business school.
He said this was to encourage young agriculture professionals at the grassroots to engaged in extension services as agribusiness to create permanent partnership between knowledge- based farmers and traditional farmers as well create job opportunities for young professionals by strengthening extension services in the country as well to promote local content development.
Iliyasu further said that the scheme has procured and distributed power tiller machines, tube well drilling machines to drill 300 tube wells, water pumps and inputs like fertilizer, improved seeds and chemicals. It has also begun training trainers for the lead farmers.