By Baba Alfa, Minna
The Niger State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) supported by the United Nations, has trained over 50 youths under the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant.
At the flag-off and graduation ceremony in Minna, Governor Umar Bago, represented by the Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, said Niger State is among the two states selected for the ASAP grant.
He disclosed that the programme, which is aimed at empowering youths to be self-reliant, trained participants in the fabrication of agricultural equipment, complementing previous achievements recorded in the state by FGN, IFAD, and VCDP.
Comrade Yakubu noted that this initiative would enable the state to address challenges associated with the production, processing, and marketing of rice and cassava across nine local government areas.
He further stated that the intervention is timely, as it will increase the capacity of smallholders to cope with the effects of climate change and support the expansion of arable land through climate-resilient agricultural activities.
The Deputy Governor also expressed appreciation to the federal government and IFAD/VCDP for recognising the state government’s efforts in agriculture. He assured that Niger State would sustain prompt payment of counterpart contributions and appealed for the inclusion of more local government areas.
Comrade Yakubu congratulated the beneficiaries of the ASAP grant and urged the trained youths to utilise the grant and starter packs effectively to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and provide services to farmers within their clusters.
In her address, the National Programme Coordinator of VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said VCDP has made a remarkable impact in promoting youth entrepreneurship, empowering women, and mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture.
She explained that the ASAP grant is designed to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers against climate change, targeting 24,000 beneficiaries nationwide, of which 18,700 are in Niger State, including women.
According to Dr Aliyu, the intervention covers the distribution of climate-resilient planting materials, soil conservation and erosion control, waste-to-wealth initiatives, improved access to water resources, and renewable energy solutions, among others.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the distribution of the ASAP grant and the graduation of youth fabricators signal a future for Nigeria’s agriculture sector that is inclusive, climate-smart, youth-driven, and profitable.
The agricultural equipment distributed under the ASAP grant included cassava peel conversion machines, rice husk briquette machines, solar-powered irrigation pumps, power tillers for bunds, and laptops and phones for climate information, reaching beneficiaries across six local government areas.
Also, starter packs were distributed to 45 trained youths across nine local government areas in the state.
