The Federal Government, through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has recorded significant progress in rice and cassava production in Niger State.
As reported by Nigeria Startup News in Katcha on Saturday, the gains follow the rollout of the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant. A field tour by VCDP officials to intervention sites in Katcha and Bida Local Government Areas showed expanded farm sizes, bumper harvests and growing waste-to-wealth enterprises among beneficiaries of the climate-resilient initiative.
The tour included visits to the Bangi Farmers Cooperative and Emiworo community in Katcha, as well as the Dabarako Cassava Processing Centre in Bida. It was aimed at assessing the impact of improved rice seeds and climate-smart technologies provided under the ASAP grant.
ASAP is a global initiative of IFAD, integrated into Nigeria’s VCDP framework. It is designed to channel climate finance directly to smallholder farmers and strengthen resilience in food systems.
In Niger State, the programme covers Bida, Borgu, Edati, Katcha, Mokwa and Wushishi local government areas. It supports producers, processors, marketers, women cooperatives and youth groups involved in the rice and cassava value chains.
Hajiya Hadizat Isah, State Programme Coordinator of VCDP, said the grant began in March 2025 in Niger and Kogi, two of the nine states participating in VCDP nationwide.
She said 18,710 beneficiaries were recorded in Niger out of 24,000 farmers supported across the two states. In Katcha LGA alone, 1,410 beneficiaries are cultivating about 500 hectares under the scheme.
Isah explained that the core objective of ASAP is to improve climate resilience, promote sustainable production systems and enhance waste management through innovative waste-to-wealth technologies.
She added that farmers received improved and climate-resilient rice seeds, as well as high-yield cassava stems including Vitamin A varieties. Processors were also equipped to convert rice husks and cassava peels into useful products.
At Emiworo community in Katcha, members of the Emiworo Women Cooperative demonstrated briquettes produced from rice husks. The project is aimed at reducing waste, curbing deforestation and creating alternative income sources.
Similarly, cassava processors at the Dabarako Processing Centre in Bida LGA showcased equipment that converts cassava peels into animal feed. The initiative supports livestock production and reduces environmental pollution.
Halima Ibrahim, a beneficiary from Emiworo community, said the training on rice husk conversion had improved her livelihood. She said proceeds from briquette sales now support her household income.
Ahmed Mohammed, a rice farmer in Katcha, expressed appreciation for the improved seeds, noting that farmers are already recording bumper harvests.
“Our markets are full of paddy. We can now sponsor our children in schools without stress,” he said.
Nathaniel Gana, an Extension Agent in Katcha LGA, said the programme ensured proper distribution and monitoring of equipment. He added that farmers were trained in Good Agronomic Practices and climate-smart agriculture.
Beyond seed distribution, the intervention included construction of bunds for water retention, erosion control through planting grasses and shrubs, drilling of tube wells and deployment of 1,200 solar-powered irrigation pumps to support year-round farming.
Other equipment distributed includes 36 cassava peel conversion machines, 50 rice husk briquette machines and 110 power tillers for bund construction. Laptops and mobile phones were also provided for climate information dissemination, alongside training on digital extension services.
