Niger State Distributes Farm Inputs, Assets to 15,922 Farmers Under NG-CARES
By Nma Makun
The Niger State Government has flagged off the distribution of agricultural inputs and productive assets to 15,922 farmers across the state under the NG-CARES program for the wet-season farming cycle.
The official flag-off ceremony took place in Minna, led by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, who represented Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
Speaking at the event, Garba stated that the intervention forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to protect rural livelihoods, boost domestic food production, and stimulate economic growth throughout the state.
Under the initiative, 15,800 farmers are earmarked to receive essential production inputs, while 122 individual beneficiaries will receive specialized agricultural assets.
The total input package includes:
2,350 metric tonnes of high-grade fertilizer
15,600 litres of herbicides
15,600 litres of insecticides
High-yield improved rice and maize seed varieties
Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Isah Sidi Rijau, highlighted the distribution as an active investment in long-term food security, prosperity, and hope for local agricultural workers.
Providing breakdown details, the State Project Coordinator for FADAMA NG-CARES, Alhaji Shehu Kudu Mohammed, noted that the selection covers multiple value chains—including rice, maize, sorghum, livestock, and fisheries.
He emphasized that the beneficiary selection prioritized vulnerable groups, specifically targeting persons with special needs, widows, widowers, unemployed youths, and low-income households.
State officials concluded the flag-off by warning all beneficiaries against reselling or diverting the materials, urging them to utilize the resources strictly for their intended agricultural production.
