The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has trained 105 rice farmers in Niger State on improved agronomic practices aimed at boosting productivity and enhancing food security.
The training, held in the Washi community, Lavun Local Government Area, is expanding climate-smart and modern rice farming techniques to newly integrated areas.
Hajiya Hadizat Isah, State Programme Coordinator for the VCDP Programme, explained that the initiative equips farmers with modern skills that have already transformed rice production in other Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“Our farmers in Wushishi, Katcha, Mokwa, and Edati are now achieving three to four production cycles per year thanks to our intervention, and we want Lavun farmers to replicate these results,” she said.
The training covered site selection for dry-season farming, land preparation, seed selection, nursery establishment, transplanting, water and soil management, fertiliser application, and pest control.
Extension agents will continue to support farmers throughout the production cycle, providing inputs and equipment at subsidised rates.
VCDP has begun constructing aggregation centres and market stores in Lavun to facilitate storage and marketing.
Communities contribute 10 per cent in-kind, such as land and labour, to strengthen ownership and participation.
Prof. Abigael Girji, lead consultant from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, toured four LGAs to deliver dry-season GAP instruction.
She emphasised the importance of proper site selection near water sources, the use of improved seeds, and meticulous farm record-keeping to treat agriculture as a business.
Local farmers, including Mallam Mohammed Shaba and Mallam Suleiman Idris, expressed gratitude, noting that the modern techniques would improve yields compared to traditional methods.
“This training has opened our eyes to practices that can transform our farms into profitable and sustainable ventures,” they said.
Source: NAN
