Farmers in Niger on Tuesday disclosed that the various programmes by the Federal Government and development partners have improved their income.
The farmers are participating in the Federal Government (FG), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Bida Local Government Area.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bida, they said the programme has created more jobs, increased yield and reduced poverty among them.
Malam Dauda Zakariyau, Lead Farmer, Edogifu Rice Farmers Association, Bida said that the programme has gradually changed subsistence farming to commercial farming because of introduction of modern techniques like Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
“We are grateful to the federal government and IFAD because our method of farming has improved. The value chain for rice has created more jobs for farmers, right from production, processing, packaging and marketing.
“The VCDP also increased our income which attracted other rural farmers not participating in the programme to make inquiries about it,’’ he said.
Zakariyau called on the Federal Government to extend the four years old programme because it has helped in transforming the traditional method of farming in the area.
“We appeal to government on behalf of other farmers groups to extend it to enable more farmers to embrace VCDP because of its immeasurable benefits.’’
He said that the IFAD-VCDP introduced the faro 44 imp supported them in the areas of access to fertiliser, improved seeds such as faro 44, capacity building on GAP and extension services.
He said that rice farmers harvested between 2 to 2.5 tons of rice per hectare of land before the intervention but now it has increased to 6 to 7 tons per hectare.
Similarly, Hajiya Ramatu Bako, treasurer Emisuhiru Cassava Producers Association, Bida commended the IFAD-VCDP for it interventions.
She said the programme introduced them to cassava variety such as the TME 419 and vitamin `A’ fortified cassava varieties which increased their yield and income.
Bako said that before this interventions, they cultivated manually with hoes and other local implements but now they farm with power tillers (small tractors).
She said that the cassava farmers harvested between eight and 10 tons per hectare of land before but now they harvests between 25 and 30 tons per hectare.
NAN recalls that the VCDP has 11,401 rice producers and 2,035 cassava producers spread across the five participating local government areas of Kontagora, Katcha, Bida, Wushsishi and Shiroro in the state.
The Federal Government was implementing a six year programme for rice and cassava VCDP in the six states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.
The programme prepared in 2010 was approved for an IFAD loan of $74.4 million and grant of $500,000 in April 2012.
It is expected to complete its projects in Dec. 31, 2019 and terminate by June 30, 2020.
