By Stephen Ojo
In Niger State a total of 35,000 farmers have been engaged to cultivate 100, 000 hectares of farm land estimated to produce one million tons of assorted grains during this year’s dry season farming in the State.
The Niger state commissioner of Agriculture, Musa Salihu Bawa Bosso stated this Tuesday in Minna the Niger State capital while briefing the press on the expectation of the government in the current effort to boost agricultural practice in the State.
He revealed that the state government has also received 300 tractors to be engaged in mechanized farming in the state.
The commissioner explained that the government has decided to encouraged the farmers to participate in dry season farming in order to ensure adequate production and supply of rice, maize, sorghum and other grains to the market in the shortest possible period.
According to him, “government is making available some machineries including planters, harvesters and others to assist farmers. As we have said earlier, government is determined to give priority to agriculture. In line with this, government has received 300 tractors in partnership with private investors to kick start mechanized farming in the state.”
He explained that based on a memorandum of understanding MoU with a private firm, farmers would be supported to cultivate 250,000 hectares across the 25 local governments of Niger State and given improved seedlings to plant.
According to him, ” agriculture is now purely business and we need to sensitise our people to change their minds and embrace the new concept.