Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Asmau Asabe Ahmed, has received the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the land for the construction of the Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ), in Niger State.
The Minister was presented with the land certificate recently at the Niger State government house by the state governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, when she paid him a courtesy call.
Mrs. Asabe, who was on a familiarization/inspection tour of the Agricultural projects/programmes domesticated in Niger State, commended the efforts of the state government for ensuring the increase in the registration of farmers in the GES from 257,000 to 500,000, adding that nine more redemption centres have been created to ensure quick access to agro-inputs by farmers.
Mrs. Ahmed, made a presentation of cassava bread, made of 20% cassava flour infusion and 80% wheat flour and cassava chips to the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babagida and members of the Executive Council.
In his response, the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babagida Aliyu, commended the Ministry on the ATA, especially the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, initiated to empower rural farmers to improve on their productivity and uplift their income.
The Governor appreciated the rural road construction by Rural Access Mobility Programme (RAMP), and pledged that the state government will complement the efforts of the ministry on the construction of rural roads for the evacuation of farm produce to the hinter lands.
Dr. Aliyu reiterated the commitment of the Niger State Government to create youth employment programmes in the agricultural sector for the sustenance of food security, adding that the Fadama 111 programme in the state is ranked high in the whole country.
The Chief Servant solicited for collaboration between Niger State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to drive home ATA programmes to the state, especially women and youth’s empowerment programmes.
