Niger State Government has earmarked twenty thousand hectares of land to upscale the production of sugar.
State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago stated this when he received the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria along with other foreign investors from Brazil, United States and South Africa who were in Minna for an overview agricultural activities in the State and to collaborate with the government.
The team of investors were taken to Tagwai Dam and the Tagwai feed lots where Governor Umaru Bago, explained that his administration’s plans to expand sugar and crop production to meet up with the target of feeding the Nation.
According to him, the collaboration with the investors will change the entire landscape of agriculture in Nigeria as the state is focused on understanding the value chain in agriculture.
He said plans have reached an advance stage by his administration to increase seed production, admitting that one of the major challenges in Nigeria is that farmers do not usually have the right seeds for production.
The Governor, expressed optimism that the collaboration especially with the Brazilians to develop a lot of animal pasture that will be used to feed the livestock and change their genetics for quality milk production while abattoirs will be transitioned from packaging blood meat to frozen meat.
Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros, in his remarks described Governor Umar Bago as a tremendous and visionary leader who has transitioned the agro industry in Nigeria, stressing that collaboration with the Niger State government will also transform the livelihoods of farmers through various agricultural programmes.
Other development partners that spoke expressed enthusiasm with the opportunity to collaborate with the state and help in ensuring that the vision of Niger state Governor through his agricultural revolution is achieved.
PR Aliyu Lawal.
