The Niger State government, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and other development partners are to invest N200.6 million in the agriculture sector.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, disclosed this during a press conference in Minna on Thursday.
He said that the money would be used to implement the Niger State Policy on Agriculture and Agriculture Investment Plan (NSAIP) for four years.
Matane said that the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa was providing funding support to the state through the state Ministry Of Agriculture.
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He said the fund would address challenges of food insecurity and limited access to structured markets faced by smallholder rice farmers in the state.
According to him, the programme targets 156, 250 farmers in five local government areas for improved access to seeds and fertilisers, extension and advisory support and mechanisation services.
He added that the NSAIP targets key crops, livestock and fisheries value chains as well as production of rice, maize, cassava, sorghum and soybeans, cashews, oil palm, ginger, shea, sesame and cotton.
The SSG added that the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is also implementing a two-year capacity strengthening project for the ministry, adding that the policy and investment document had already been developed.
Matane disclosed that the agriculture policy provides a framework that enunciated the guidelines, objectives, structures and standards to achieve the desired goal.
