Niger State Government has said farmers in security-challenged areas will be secured to enable them harvest their crops.
Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG) Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, speaking at a news conference on the Niger State Policy on Agriculture and Agriculture Investment plan (2020-2024) documents in Minna, said the government was aware of the socio-economic impact of farmers not being able to harvest their crops.
He added that security was being arranged for them.
“We have four local governments challenged by insecurity. They are Rafi, Shiroro, Munya and Mariga, with other localised security challenges around some local governments. “We discover that many farmers are restricted in harvesting their crops because of security issues and if we are not careful, they will lose these crops and their investments with it.
“What the state government is trying to do is to bring in some security protection for farmers to harvest what they have on their farms. We have been working to ensure that security is provided for farmers to go back to their farms to harvest whatever they have cultivated.”
The SSG said government is not resting on its oars in ensuring that security is sustained and the spate of banditry, insurgencies and kidnappings is reduced.
“The government is not resting to ensure that security is guaranteed to everybody. It is concerned that if we do not provide security and guarantee it, investors will not come and for those that are already here, they may leave.”
Speaking about the Niger State policy on agriculture and documents, he said N203 billion would be invested in the agricultural sector and implemented for four years, adding that “this money will be sourced from the government, development partners and the private sector.”
