NIGER GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CULTIVATE 1MILLION HECTARES OF LAND TO ADDRESS FOOD CRISIS 27-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu Niger state Government plans to cultivate one million hectares of farmland within the next few years towards addressing the problem of food crisis and provide employment for women and youth.
State Commissioner of Agriculture, Musa Salihu Bawa announced this while addressing Newsmen on the outcome of their state Executive Council Meeting in Minna.
Alh Musa Bawa Bosso explained that already the state government has concluded arrangements to cultivate ten thousand hectares of farmland in each of the twenty five Local Government Areas of the state this year.
According to him, Niger state government under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago plan to cultivate two hundred and fifty thousand hectares of farmland in the state towards enhancing and promoting food security in Nigeria and Africa.
To achieve this the Niger state Commissioner of Agriculture said they have received a delivery of three hundred tractors from John Deere limited to support farmers engage in mechanised system of farming for improved yields, while advising farmers in the state to take farming as a business career to enhance their status.
Alh Musa Bawa Bosso further said that Niger state government has purchase other heavy equipments like planter harvesters and fertilizer sprayers to ease farming activities.
According to him Niger state government will take charge of land preparation and the provision of chemical and insecticides, while after harvest the state government will take sixty percent of profit while farmers take forty percent towards encouraging them to do more.
Alh Musa Bawa Bosso also spoke of plans by Niger state government to build farm estates around those community involved in the mechanised system of farming to boost their morale.