The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Niger said it assisted 150 rice farmers in the state to procure N50 million worth of inputs to increase their yields.

The Programme Coordinator of IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Niger State, Dr Mathew Ahmed made this known on Saturday at the inauguration of funds support programme for small holder farmers in Katcha Local Government Area.

He said ``we have supported 150 rice farmers from six different cooperative groups with a grant of N25 million to match the N25 million they contributed for this programme.

``Fifty hectares of land will be cultivated by the clusters of farmers, numbering 25 in each group.’’

Ahmed explained that the programme, aimed at enhancing rice and cassava value chains for sustainable agricultural transformation, would increase wealth for farmers.

He said that the grant was for farm inputs such as faro-57-fertilizer, herbicides and for insurance cover for the farms in case of destruction from natural disaster and diseases.

He added that part of the grant would be used to prepare the land, while IFAD would provide 25 tube wells to enable farmers to grow ``three cycle yield’’ per season.

He said that the grant covers provision of threshing machines for the farmers to ensure that the rice was clean.

``We are expecting 400 tonnes of rice per cycle, meaning we will get 1,200 tonnes of rice per farming season under the fund’s regime,’’ he said.

Improved rice seedlings, according to him, are also given to beneficiaries by IFAD and the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA).

The Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibrahim urged the farmers to utilise the support for rice production toward ensuring success of the programme.

Ibrahim, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Maidugu, said the extension staff of the state’s ministry of agriculture would be on ground to give the farmers necessary support.

He said ``IFAD is also partnering with Bida and Wushishi local government areas in our state on enhancing rice and cassava value chains for sustainable agricultural transformation.’’

Also, the Chairman, All Farmers Association (AFAN) in the Katcha Local Government Area, Alhaji Jibrin Yakubu, said many farmers were faced with the challenge of getting fertilizer at affordable rates.

Yakubu, who commended IFAD for the gesture, assured that AFAN would ensure the success of the programme. (NAN)

Photo shows: Niger State Gov