The collaboration between the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development is significantly transforming agriculture in Niger State, particularly among farmers in the rice value chain.
This has led to improved livelihoods, with many farmers celebrating the positive changes brought by the Value Chain Development Programme.
During a media tour to rice farming and processing communities in the state, Hajiya Isah, the State Programme Coordinator for the VCDP, spoke about the impactful improvements in farming communities, especially in Edati Local Government Area.
In a statement released by Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, the Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor at IFAD, Isah shared the progress made in Edati through the intervention.
She explained that before the VCDP, farmers were limited to rainfed agriculture and had no activities during the dry season.
However, the program provided training in agronomic practices and introduced solar irrigation systems, which enabled farmers to shift to dry-season farming.
“We are here to document the success stories of the farmers that VCDP has supported since the beginning of the program. Edati is one of the communities where we have implemented many supports for the farmers, especially the rice farmers,” Isah explained.
“Before, they were engaged in rainfed agriculture, doing nothing during the dry season. We trained them on good agronomic practices and empowered them with a solar irrigation system. Some of them then decided to venture into dry season farming,” she added.
She also emphasized how the intervention empowered farmers with essential tools and knowledge to adopt modern farming techniques, leading to increased productivity.
“When they started the dry season farming, we trained them and supported them with solar irrigation pumps. From there, they expanded their farms,” Isah shared.
Farmers who once cultivated small plots of land—ranging from half a hectare to two hectares—have significantly expanded their operations.
“Before, some were farming just 2 hectares of land per person—while others did 1 hectare or even ½. But when we supported them with all the equipment, like power tillers and solar irrigation pumps, they started expanding their farms,” she said.
In terms of yield, the VCDP has made a remarkable difference. Farmers who once harvested around 2 metric tons per hectare, or less, are now able to achieve 6.5 to 7 metric tons per hectare.
“Also before, they normally had 2 metric tons per hectare, and some even had less than that. But now, the farmers in Edati can boast of harvesting up to 6.5–7 metric tons per hectare. You could see from their success stories that this intervention has already changed their lives,” Isah explained.
The impact of the program extends beyond agriculture, having significantly improved the lives of farmers and their families.
“They have a lot of success stories. Every year, most of them go to Hajj. Some of them now have houses, and their children are now in the city schooling instead of attending village schools because they can now pay their school fees, whether in Minna or other places. So you can see that the farmers’ income has increased because of this intervention,” Isah stressed.
