By Faridat Salifu
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has recorded significant gains in rice and cassava production across Niger, following field assessments and stakeholder engagements conducted on Sunday.
The gains were observed during monitoring visits to intervention communities in Katcha and Bida Local Government Areas, including the Bangi Farmers Cooperative, Emiworo community and the Dabarako Cassava Processing Centre.
The programme has improved farmers’ access to quality inputs, modern farming techniques, extension services and market linkages, leading to higher yields and more efficient production systems.
Beneficiary farmers reported improved crop performance, reduced post-harvest losses and better income stability as a result of structured value-chain support and organised production models.
The intervention also strengthened processing and storage infrastructure, enabling farmers to move beyond subsistence production into commercial-scale farming.
Agricultural stakeholders said the VCDP approach has shifted farming from traditional methods to productivity-driven systems that prioritise sustainability, efficiency and market competitiveness.
The rice and cassava gains are seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen food security, rural livelihoods and agro-based economic growth in Niger State through integrated agricultural development models.
