The Niger State Government has urged international investors and partners to tap into the state’s agricultural opportunities, aiming to transform the sector under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
Speaking at the 2024 World Food Day celebration, themed “Niger State Agricultural Revolution: Solution to Hunger and Better Health,” Governor Bago, represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, emphasized the vital role of genuine investors in enhancing food security and eliminating hunger and poverty.
Governor Bago highlighted ongoing collaborations with internationally funded partners to modernize agriculture and boost the production of key crops, including rice, yam, cassava, maize, and sorghum.
He further noted the state’s vast agricultural potential, with over 3 million hectares of arable land, 23 grazing reserves, and 90 forest reserves available for exploitation.
The State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Salihu Bawa Bosso, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing agricultural policies that will maintain Niger State’s leadership as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.”
Represented by Dr. Mathew Ahmed, Bosso stated that the Ministry remains resolute in supporting farmers, especially in dry season farming, as part of its value chain development program.
He credited Governor Bago’s aggressive agricultural transformation policies for the state’s leading position in rice production and its expected growth in yam production by 2025.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Sammy Adigun, representing the Chairman of Niger Foods, emphasized the state’s continued agricultural growth and the importance of mechanization in achieving food security and economic prosperity.
A key highlight of the event was the distribution of 10 kg bags of rice to 1,500 less privileged persons by the National Association of Women in Agriculture, presented by the Deputy Governor. The ceremony also featured a group photograph with the participants.