Niger Signs 10,000 hectares land lease Agreement with 12 Communities for Farm Estate.
By Abdulkadir Yahaya.
To ensure the actualization of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago Agricultural revolutionary policy that would ensure food sufficiency and security, Niger Foods Limited has signed a lease of Land agreement with 12 Communities under the Bida Emirate
The agreement which was sealed at the Palace of Etsu Nupe in Bida, will see the Communities leasing a minimum of 10,000 hectares of land for 50 years to establish commercial farms and farm estates for mechanised production of rice, sesame, soya and maize in the first instance with an expected yield of 250,000 tonnes on an average per annum.
The Niger Foods Limited would facilitate investors that would provide 60 per cent irrigation, 10 to 50,000 tonnes silo, schools, and hospitals among others, thereby making the farm estates food production centres and would be replicated in all other local government areas of the State.
While Sammy Adigun the Executive Chairman, Niger Foods Limited, signed on behalf of the enterprise, while Village Heads of the Communities signed on behalf of their various Communities.
Niger Foods Limited is a State-owned private enterprise with the mandate of turning around the Agricultural sector of the State to feed the Nation and export to other nations through partnerships.
The Executive Chairman, Niger Foods Limited, Sammy Adigun who expressed delight with the signing of the agreement, said it will create half a million jobs and would bring about economic prosperity to the people of Bida local government.
According to him, the solution to food security is production and storage which Niger Foods Limited is determined to achieve in line with President Tinubu and Farmer Umaru Bago’s policies on Agriculture.
He disclosed that the initiative has global support as some investors have indicated interest in bringing in machines and technology to enhance farm production whereby all arable lands would be put into productive use for rapid socio-economic development.
Adigun assured that the Government would ensure an enabling environment is provided especially security for the investors, adding that smallholder farmers and even would-be farmers would also be greatly supported with necessary agricultural materials that would boost their yields.
He however appealed to Etsu Nupe for continuous sensitization of his subjects on the benefit of the policy and the need for them to sustain their support.
The chairman, Niger Foods Limited also called on the youths of the participating communities to take advantage of the opportunity to better their lots.
He said Niger Foods is collaborating with the media for massive advocacy through jingles, and news coverage that would create more awareness and ensure the success of the programme.
Responding, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar disclosed that he has been holding a series of meetings with District Heads, Village Heads and Community leaders on how the people will embrace the Agricultural programme of the present Administration both at the State and Federal levels.
Represented by the Kusodu Nupe, Alh. Muhammad Manko Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe assured that he will not relent in his efforts adding it is an Agricultural policy with a difference, capable of taking the people out of poverty as well as guaranteeing food security.
The Managing Director, of American West African Agro Limited, Jerry Cunningham, who is willing to invest in the programme, said Niger State is blessed with enormous natural resources for mechanization but lacks management.
He said that there is an urgent need to change the narrative, especially with the administration of Farmer Umaru Bago who has a passion for Agriculture and is ready to actualise it.
Cunningham said with the support of the people, the State would experience all round significant transformation.
Adigun and another team of investors had stopped over at the Rice Processing Mill in Bida where they inspected the Mill he assured them that the Mill would be functional within the next three months.
The team also inspected the Mokwa Cattle Ranch to have first-hand knowledge of the facility and strategies on how best to resuscitate it and consequently promote agriculture initiatives of both state and federal governments.
