The FADAMA National Office, Abuja, on Saturday urged the Niger Government to seek World Bank assistance to boost the production of Shea-butter and attract international market.

Dr Ben Herbert, Agro-business Specialist with the FADAMA Office, made the call in Minna during a meeting with the state FADAMA and government officials.

Herbert called on the state government to take advantage of the World Bank officials scheduled to visit the state on November 23 to request for more intervention in the development of Shea-butter.

He noted that large quantity of Shea butter produced in the state was not utilised as more than half of the commodity was wasted.

“There was a meeting in Canada where Niger state was adjudged the highest producer of Shea-butter in Africa, so we want to do everything to promote it.”

He also advised government to request for more intervention in the area of rice production as farmers in the state produce the commodity in large quantity.

The expert said the meeting was to prepare the FADAMA III additional financing development project before the visit of the World Bank mission to the state.

Herbert explained that during the visit the World Bank would unveil various loan facilities available to the project and how to access them.

Responding, Alhaji Mohammed Danlamin, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that government would seek areas of collaboration that would benefit farmers.

Danlamin commended the project for making positive impact on farmers and also for contributing to the development of agriculture through the FADAMA III project.

The intervention areas of the FADAMA III include development of rice value chain, rehabilitation irrigation scheme, construction of feeder roads, drilling of tube wells and bore holes for supplementary irrigation. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Bello.