IFAD-VCDP Empowers Niger State Rice Farmers Ahead of 2026 Wet Season.
Rice farmers in Egbanti, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, have undergone intensive training on modern agricultural techniques designed to boost yields and profitability ahead of the 2026 wet farming season.
The capacity-building exercise was organized by the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), an initiative supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Speaking at the event, the State Programme Coordinator, Hajiya Hadiza Isah, emphasized that the initiative aims to shift local farmers away from traditional, low-yield farming practices toward sustainable modern methods.
The training covered the entire agricultural value chain, including the use of improved seed varieties, nursery establishment, mechanized land preparation, transplanting, proper crop spacing, precise fertilizer and agrochemical application, farm record-keeping, and value addition.
Academic experts from the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) including Professor Abigail Jirgi, Professor Emma Daniel, and Professor Abdulaziz Abdullahi served as resource persons, delivering practical sessions on efficient land preparation, optimal spacing, mechanized harvesting, and processing techniques.
Reacting to the intervention, one of the beneficiaries, Yahya Umar, expressed gratitude to the IFAD-VCDP initiative.
He noted that beyond training, the program’s provision of farm equipment, subsidized fertilizers, and access to agricultural loans would significantly transform rice production in the community.
