The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) mission team have expressed satisfaction with the remarkable progress recorded in Niger State under the ongoing agricultural support scheme.
Members of the mission team shared their impressions during a courtesy visit to the Niger State Governor at the Government House, Minna.
The Country Director of IFAD VCDP, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, commended the state’s transformation in agriculture, attributing the success to the commitment of the “farmer governor.” She emphasized that Governor Umaru Bago’s dedication to empowering smallholder farmers has been vital to the achievements of IFAD VCDP in Niger State.
Mrs. Ekoue said, “The agricultural transformation happening in Niger State is a model that extends beyond Africa. The ripple effects of these achievements are being felt globally.” She added that the program’s success was possible through the cooperation of the state government, benefiting farmers, and the business community. According to her, more than 55,000 farmers and agro-processors are currently being supported under the scheme, and the impressive results will encourage IFAD to invest more funds in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The National Programme Coordinator of IFAD VCDP, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, explained that the program is operational across nine Local Government Areas in Niger State. She said intensive training has been organized for youth in areas like mechanization, agro fabrication, production, and refresher courses to strengthen their skills.
Dr. Aliyu also disclosed that Niger State is among the pilot states where VCDP is working with financial institutions to develop agricultural products that offer agro-processor loans. She said, “Niger State is one of the flagship states of VCDP, and this is why it is among the only two states to benefit from the $3.5 million grant for the Agricultural Smallholder Adaptation Project (ASAP). The project aims to tackle climate change, and Niger State will have 19,000 beneficiaries.”
She further stated that the beneficiaries will also receive training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and financial inclusion initiatives to strengthen their productivity and resilience.
The mission’s technical lead, Mrs. Adeline Muheebwa, highlighted that consultants and technical specialists from eight different countries visited Niger State to assess the program’s success. She noted, “What we have seen in Niger State is remarkable. The progress made so far reflects strong political will and the unwavering support of the farmer governor.”
Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, also praised the efforts of IFAD VCDP. He stated that the program has been running in the state for over 11 years with visible achievements in agricultural transformation. “IFAD VCDP has helped Niger State stay on the right track. The collaboration has brought measurable progress to the state’s agricultural agenda,” he said.
Representing the Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, appreciated the visiting assessment team. He assured that the state government will continue to partner with IFAD and create an enabling environment for the program to thrive. Usman added that the state values the partnerships and collaborations received from both local and international development partners.
He said, “We have a deliberate policy to fully utilize our vast natural resources and human capital to make agriculture a success. Agriculture is the main pillar of our new Niger agenda.”
The SSG reaffirmed that the administration is committed to implementing all recommendations made by the IFAD mission team after its review. He also assured that Niger State will continue to fulfill all counterpart funding obligations to ensure more farmers benefit from the agricultural development initiatives.