The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to empower small-scale farmers in Niger State with mechanized farming tools and equipment, aimed at reducing the high cost of farm inputs and increasing agricultural productivity.

Speaking at the flag-off event in Minna, Minister of Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi, said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the July 2023 declaration of a state of emergency on food security.

“The federal government is determined to reduce the high cost of farm inputs and support smallholder farmers. We are committed to boosting food production, creating jobs, and making food affordable for Nigerians,” Sabi stated.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago commended President Tinubu for prioritising agriculture, noting that the initiative would encourage farmers, enhance food security, and complement the state’s agricultural development plan.

“From 2026, Niger State will pilot a scheme involving two million women in agriculture. This initiative aims to transition some women out of poverty,” Bago said. He also announced plans to establish the Cooperative Bank of Niger, capitalized with N2 billion, exclusively for agricultural financing to reduce interest rates and improve access to loans.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, highlighted that 35% of the farming inputs would be reserved for women, in line with the National Gender Policy on Agriculture.

The initiative will distribute herbicides, cocoa fertilizer, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, tomato seeds, power tillers, water pumps, and other tools to help farmers improve yield and productivity.