Niger govt. Signs 10 year partnership with BAYER AG on agriculture, targets two million farmers.
By : Abdulkadir Yahaya Minna.
Niger State Government has signed a ten year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bayer AG on a ten year agricultural revolution to benefit 2,000,000 farmers.
The signing of the agreement took place at the sideline of the World Bank /IMF Spring meetings in Wacshinton DC, USA.
The partnership is under the shared vision of ‘Feeding the Nation’ for the State Government and ‘Health for All, Hunger for None,’ for the multinational company.
According to the MoU, the multinational company is expected to provide innovations in Agriculture so as to improve on food production in line with the “feed the nation policy of the present administration in the state.
Niger State Government through the Niger Foods limited on the other hand, would spearhead an efficient and profitable agribusiness with focus on the maize, soya beans, tomatoes and onions among others, using about 500,000 hectares of land.
The collaboration, which will be carried out in phases, would be guided by a progressive and sustainable strategy of 1/10/100.
The deal will also boost global market access for the State to significant economic growth which will not only be beneficial to Niger State, but Nigeria in general.
Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Science and sustainability Bayer AG Matthias Berninger at the event both agreed that the partnership will be of immense benefit to Niger State and Nigeria, especially in supporting environmental resilience and productivity to ensuring food safety and promote economic growth.
