AGRA - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Jun, Wed, 2025

Niger, AGRA train 1,000 women, youths on livestock production

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By Rita Iliya
The Niger Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has trained 1,000 youths and women on livestock production to boost animal production in the state.

Mr Jonathan Wasa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said this during the livestock entrepreneurship training for youths across Niger.

Wasa, who was represented by Abbas Mohammed, Director of Animal Production in the ministry, said the training was in partnership with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

He said that 50 beneficiaries would be trained in the first phase with two persons selected from each of the 25 local government areas of the state.

“We decided to synergise with AGRA to train our women and youths to change their mindset in animal rearing to improve livestock production in the state.

“The aim is to transform our food system, support smallholder farmers as well as make our youths self-reliant,” he said.

The permanent secretary added that the training was also for the beneficiaries to get acquainted with the realities on ground.

“The plan was that the beneficiaries would be empowered financially and given basic tools and materials to start up livestock production,” Wasa said.

Speaking, Dr Matthew Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Agriculture, advised the beneficiaries to acquire skills on livestock production that would be beneficial to them.

In his remarks, Mr Godswill Aguiyi, the Programme Officer of AGRA in Niger, advised the beneficiaries to see the training as an opportunity to venture into businesses and enhance the agricultural sector.

He said that the aim of the training was to transform the food system, support smallholder farmers and help the youths become self-reliant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training covered topics such as livestock production economics, business and pasture developments. (NAN)

Edited by Chidi Opara

Sasakawa, AGRA distribute inputs to farmers in Niger

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Sat, 2024

General News

Sasakawa, AGRA distribute inputs to farmers in Niger

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By Rita Iliya

The Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria in partnership with AGRA, has distributed farm inputs to 7,400 farmers in Niger state to support dry season farming.

Dr Godwin Atser, Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, said in Minna on Friday that the distribution was the first phase.

Atser, represented by Dr Abdulhamid Gambo, Deputy Country Director, said the items distributed included four solar pumps.

Other items are 15 petrol water pumps, three parboiling pots, fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides.

He said the distribution would benefit farmers’ groups to engage in dry season farming and reduce cost of production.

“This will support 7,400 farmers across clusters in 17 local government areas to engage in irrigation farming,” he said.

He noted that the items would improve farmers’ productivity through good agronomic practices, adding that farmers had been trained on major farm operations.

“We are also supporting women farmers in rice production and processing, providing them with false bottom parboiling pots to promote hygienic parboiling practices,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr Godswill Aguyi, Programme Officer for AGRA, said the inputs would increase farmers’ productivity and income, enables farmers to practice two seasons per year, and promote sustainable agriculture practices.

“We are going green, and since we now have technology that can help farmers without depending on high-cost fuel, it is good for us to begin to encourage people to adopt this kind of equipment,” he said.

According to him, with the high cost of fuel, solar-based irrigation pumps will provide relief to farmers and promote environmental sustainability.

In their separate remarks, Mrs Cecilia Usman from Ebosoko Women Society Group, Mokwa, and Isah Ladan, appreciated Sasakawa and AGRA for the inputs.

They said the inputs would help them multiply their yields and cut production cost, adding that the equipment came at the right time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention was under Agra-Niger State Consortium Project.

It is tagged “Improving Farmers Resilience and Upscaling Productivity Incomes and Livelihood in Rice, Maize, Soyabean, Cowpea, Onion value chains” (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz