Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has encouraged farmers in the state to focus on dry season farming by taking advantage of the lower Niger Basin to boost crop harvest.

Bago gave the advise during the flag-off of the distribution farming implements and relief materials at the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, Headquarters in Minna.

He also urged the farmers to engage in pasture production in line with the presidential initiative on livestock and agriculture in Nigeria, to mitigate farmer-herder clashes in the state.

“I have noticed that our farmers don’t really get much from the rainy season farming, that’s why I am encouraging them to take advantage of the Low Niger Basin dry season farming to boost their production.

“Our farmers are also complaining of crash in prices of food items and they are not making profits. So, I want to also encourage them to start animal production to increase their sources of income and in turn reduce farmer-herder clashes,” Bago said.

The governor pledged to provide 160 water pumps in addition to the 160 allocated to the state by N-HYPPADEC to boost agriculture just as he emphasized the importance of re-educating the public and enforcing life jacket use to curtail incessant boat mishaps

The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, disclosed that out of the 850 units of 13-horsepower hand-driven power tillers meant for all the N-HYPPADEC states, a total of 165 units have been allocated to Niger State

“Other items are 4,000 life jackets, 500 bags of NPK fertilizers, 50 cartons of pesticides, and 100 cartons of herbicides for affected flood communities in Mokwa and other local government areas of the state. This is in addition to the recently awarded contract for supplies of planters and sprayers for distribution to affected communities in N-HYPPADEC member states.

“The distribution of the hand-driven power tillers and other items is yet another practical step in their continuing effort to reduce vulnerability, improve livelihoods, and promote inclusive development,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Matthew Ahmed, in his goodwill message commended the activities and interventions of the N-HYPPADEC in ensuring safety of lives and increased food productivity and security in the state

Also the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, applauded the initiative and commended N-HYPPADEC’s leadership for its impact on communities in Niger and other member states.

Niger: Gov Bago urges farmers to engage in dry season farming, livestock production