Niger State Policy on Agriculture (2020)

The Niger State Policy on Agriculture (2020) outlines the strategic framework for the development and transformation of the agricultural sector in Niger State. The policy is designed to address the challenges faced by the sector and promote sustainable agricultural practices that enhance food security, increase agricultural productivity, and boost the income of farmers. Key areas of focus in the policy include:

Sustainable Agricultural Development: Promoting practices that conserve natural resources and enhance long-term agricultural productivity.

Food Security: Ensuring the availability and accessibility of nutritious food for all residents of the state.

Private Sector Investment: Attracting investments into the agricultural value chain, especially in areas like agribusiness, agro-processing, and mechanized farming.

Infrastructure Development: Enhancing rural infrastructure, including roads, water supply, and storage facilities to support farming communities.

Capacity Building: Empowering farmers through training programs that focus on modern agricultural techniques, farm management, and climate resilience.

Research and Technology: Encouraging research to improve crop varieties, enhance pest control, and adopt new technologies for increased yields.

The policy also focuses on improving the livelihoods of rural communities by increasing agricultural outputs, promoting diversification into higher-value crops, and facilitating better market access for farmers.

The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-1), funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, is one of the key interventions aimed at transforming the agricultural sector in Niger State. The program has the following broad objectives:

Attract private sector investment to agriculture.

Reduce post-harvest losses.

Add value to rural agricultural produce.

Develop rural infrastructure.

Enhance access to financial services and markets for farmers and value chain actors.

This intervention is expected to create 120,000 jobs along the priority crops of rice, sorghum, and cassava. Additionally, it aims to increase Nigeria’s food supply by 20 million metric tons annually, contributing to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, reducing dependency on oil, and ensuring food security.

The project covers seven Local Government Areas: Agaie, Lapai, Katcha, Gbako, Lavun, Mokwa, and Wushishi. The main mandate crops for this program are rice, cassava, and sorghum.