FG, IFAD collaboration empowers farmers in Niger, boosts rice production

The partnership between the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is having a transformative effect on agriculture in Niger State, particularly benefiting farmers in the rice value chain through the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
This was highlighted by the State Programme Coordinator for the VCDP, Hajiya Isah, during a media tour of rice farming and processing communities in the state. The tour focused on the significant improvements made in farming communities, especially in the Edati local government area.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, the Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor at IFAD, Isah explained how the program has had a positive impact on farmers in Edati. She noted that before the program, farmers depended solely on rainfed agriculture and had limited activities during the dry season. However, through the VCDP, they received training in good agronomic practices and were equipped with solar irrigation systems, allowing them to expand into 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 said.
“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 said.
She further explained how the intervention provided farmers with critical tools and training to transition to advanced farming techniques that 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,” she noted.
Farmers who previously cultivated only small plots of land—ranging from half a hectare to two hectares—have now 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,” Isah added.
In terms of yield, the VCDP’s intervention has had a major impact.
“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,” she said.
Isah highlighted the life-changing effects the program has had on the 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,” she added.