Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced that over 500,000 hectares of land have been prepared for cultivation across the Niger South Senatorial District, as part of his agricultural revolution.
Governor Bago made this statement during an inspection of his personal farm, where 104 hectares have already been cultivated out of a total of 1,000 hectares.
The governor noted that the preparation of over 500,000 hectares was made possible through the support of the Emirate Council, the State Government, and the private sector. He stressed the need for continued community involvement and education on the agricultural revolution, ensuring that young people understand the benefits and prosperity that will result from the effective implementation of his agricultural agenda.
Expressing his satisfaction with the achievements of Niger Foods Ltd, Governor Bago highlighted that the enterprise has successfully cleared 32,000 hectares of land in the Bobi grazing reserve, among other areas.
During his interaction with the community, the Governor informed them of his plans to involve them in his farm operations, offering opportunities for them to earn income. He also assured the community of further developmental projects.
Fodio Yusuf Abubakar, the Zonal Project Manager of Zone A for Niger Foods, stated that the company has successfully covered all farmlands allocated to them by the communities in Zone A. He noted that they are planting alternative crops such as maize, soybeans, and sesame.
Abubakar mentioned that further discussions will be held with other communities to encourage their participation in the agricultural revolution.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Musa Bawa Bosso, noted that the agricultural revolution is already taking shape and that the goal of feeding the nation is achievable. He acknowledged the productive working relationship between the Ministry and Niger Foods, which has motivated more people to join the agricultural projects initiated by Governor Bago.
The Commissioner also spoke about the Community Agricultural Extension Volunteers (CAEV) programme, stating that interested community members across the state have been mobilised to participate in the programme.