By Chinedu Okafor, African Agricultural Correspondent
The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development under the Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP), has trained 105 rice farmers in Niger State on modern agricultural practices designed to increase yields and strengthen food security.
The training, held in Washi community of Lavun Local Government Area, is part of the FG/IFAD-assisted VCDP-Additional Financing initiative aimed at extending Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to newly integrated LGAs.
Speaking during the exercise, the State Programme Coordinator, Hajiya Hadizat Isah, explained that the programme was tailored to equip Lavun farmers with techniques that have already transformed rice production in other parts of the state.
“Our farmers in Wushishi, Katcha, Mokwa and Edati are now achieving three to four production cycles annually because of our intervention. We want Lavun farmers to replicate that success,” she said.
The training covered critical areas such as site selection for dry-season farming, land preparation, seed selection, nursery establishment, transplanting, water and soil management, and other yield-enhancing techniques. Extension agents will continue to guide farmers throughout the production cycle, while inputs and equipment will be provided at subsidised rates.
Isah also revealed that VCDP has commenced the construction of aggregation centres and market stores in Lavun to improve storage and marketing. Communities are expected to contribute 10 percent in-kind support, including land and labour.
Prof. Abigael Girji, lead consultant from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, emphasised the importance of proper site selection and the use of improved seed varieties.
“Dry-season farming depends heavily on irrigation. We advised farmers to choose sites close to water sources, use viable seeds, and apply fertiliser, herbicides and water at the right time,” she noted.
Girji further encouraged farmers to maintain proper records to evaluate profitability and adopt farming as a business enterprise.
Participants such as Mohammed Shaba and Suleiman Idris expressed gratitude for the training, saying the new techniques would help them move beyond traditional methods and achieve higher yields.
