No fewer than 242 smallholder farmers have benefitted from the Federal Government’s National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) in Niger.
Mr Temitope Fadeshemi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Minna.
Fadeshemi explained during the training and empowerment of verified and validated 242 smallholder farmers in the state that the NPRGS was the Federal Government’s efforts at alleviating poverty among Nigerians.
Represented by the State Coordinator of the ministry, Dr Ladan Suleiman, he lamented the increasing rate of poverty in the country.
He said that the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was informed by the need to alleviate poverty through the NPRGS.
“Today, 242 farmers in Niger State will benefit from the federal government’s NPRGS. The NPRGS reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots.
“It marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to uplifting the lives of our smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices,” Fadeshemi said.
He said that the farmers were grouped into two – crop and livestock farmers.
According to the permanent secretary, each poultry farmer will get 25 day-old chicks and one bag of feed, while the fish farmers will go home with two bags of feed.
”The crop farmers will get improved seedlings, a knapsack sprayer, herbicides and insecticides”.
“In addition to the inputs, each farmer’s bank account will be credited with some money to enable them sustain the programme,” he added.
Fadeshemi noted that the NPRGS, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services (FDAE), had enumerated approximately 250 farmers from the 36 states and Abuja to participate in the programme.
Similarly, Alhaji Umar Sanda, the State Commissioner of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, also acknowledged the hardship and hunger across the country.
He said that the Agriculture Sector, if harnessed well by the government, would create jobs, wealth and ensure food security for the nation.
Sanda appealed to the federal government to ensure continuous capacity building for farmers in the country to enable them improve their living standards and provide enough food for the people.
He added that the state government had been supporting Agriculture by providing inputs and implements for its farmers.
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Also speaking, Malam Umar Danasabe, Organising Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, thanked the federal government for the gesture and promised that the beneficiaries would utilise the inputs and funds.
Ms Hadiza Bala, a benefitting poultry farmer, appreciated the federal government for the gesture. (NAN)
