Minna: The Federal Government has inaugurated the distribution of agricultural inputs to small-scale farmers in Niger as part of efforts to boost food production and security in the country. Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture, disclosed this during the inauguration of the inputs distribution to farmers in Minna on Friday. He stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes food security.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative has been declared a national state of emergency, with a commitment to transforming the agriculture sector to ensure food availability, accessibility, and affordability for all Nigerians. The distributed inputs include herbicides, cocoa fertilizer, fungicide, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, and tomato seeds. Additionally, power tillers and water pumps will be provided to farmers through commodity associations, cooperative groups, farmers with special needs, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The ministry has rolled out several programs and projects aimed at addressing challenges faced by farmers and promoting food security.
The minister emphasized the alignment of all sectoral programs and initiatives with the presidential priority of food security, expressing optimism that the initiative would enhance agricultural productivity, improve food security, and contribute to poverty reduction. Dr. Marcus Olaniyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, remarked that the Tinubu-led administration is committed to using all available mechanisms to make food affordable. He noted that at least 35 percent of the inputs are targeted at women farmers, in line with the National Gender Policy on Agriculture.
Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger praised the federal ministry of agriculture for selecting Niger as a pilot state for the comprehensive agricultural initiative. He highlighted that the initiative would support small-scale farmers and promote self-sustenance and self-reliance. Bago further announced plans to launch a pilot scheme for two million women in agriculture in 2026, providing participants with chickens, goats, sheep, and crops to support their livelihoods.
The governor outlined Niger's agricultural achievements, including the export of $2.2 million worth of sesame seeds in 2025 through the Nigerian Women Police Cooperative in Farming, and disclosed plans to establish sesame processing centers. He also revealed that the state will revive the Cooperative Bank of Niger State with N2 billion, transforming it into a microfinance bank for agriculture to alleviate interest rate burdens.