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The Niger State Government says 142,623 farmers have been documented to benefit from the Agro Pocket Initiative of the Federal Government.
The initiative, which is under the National Agricultural Growth Programme is targeted at increasing food productivity and delivery of farming inputs.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Musa Salihu Bawa made this known while briefing newsmen in Minna.
He explained that the data sent to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security shows that the state has registered 96,000 rice farmers, 23,200 maize farmers and 23,423 cassava farmers for dry season farming.
Salihu Bawa said some of the measures taken by the state government to make the state the food hub of the nation include the recent delivery of 300 tractors and 200 power tillers, with more agricultural equipment and other inputs awaited.
He said farmers would be paid with farm produce such as sesame, maize, rice and soya beans instead of cash.
The commissioner added that the profit would then be shared in a 60 percent ratio between the state government and the farmers, respectively.
Reporting by Aliyu Muhammad; Editing by Ngozi Otu/RadionNigeria