As part of a programme being implemented in partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP), the federal government has empowered 27,302 farmers in Niger to encourage agricultural productivity and enhance food security,
Mrs Hadiza Isah, the State Programme Coordinator, has disclosed.
Isah who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday – yesterday, February 1 – in Abuja, the FCT, said the beneficiaries comprising 12,095 males and 9,132 females have been empowered in rice production and value addition while 3,035 males and 2,398 females received training in cassava production.
Isah said the VCDP project is being implemented in Bida, Katcha, Wushishi, Kontagora, Shiroro, Borgu, Edati and Mokwa Local Government Areas of the state, explaining that the intervention was designed to reduce poverty by increasing income of smallholder farmers, improving food security and accelerating economic growth.
The VCDP goals are aimed at strengthening the value chain, reducing post-harvest losses, improving nutrition, increasing market access, and improving productivity, among others, Mrs. Isah stressed, adding that the beneficiaries were also exposed to rice and cassava processing while communities were empowered with processing facilities in the two value chains.
“At the moment, the populace now has access to food and income among others,” she enthused.
“VCDP considering the volume of rice production in the beneficiary communities, established a processing centre for women groups based on their request.
“Any rice harvested here is processed locally and attracts more market than rice produced in local government areas that are not under the project.”
The coordinator said the feat achieved by the programme at Edati LGA attracted interest from other areas, and attributed the success to the incorporation of good agronomic practices in the project.
