From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has advocated for farmers to have an insurance scheme to cushion the effect of the loses they sometimes suffer.
Bello made this call when he received the ‘State Sector-Specific Investment Incentives’ Policy document from the Feed the Future of United States Agency for International Development, (USAID).
He added that document policy from Dominic Graham, Chief Party and Managing Director of Feed the Future, when implemented will go a long way in attracting and propelling agro- investors into the state.
He assured that an implementation committee will be set up by the government which will ensure proper and adequate monitoring and also encourage local farmers in the state to meet international standards.
According to him the state is doing well in producing the crops identified as target value chains but suggested that the policy should consider how to improve on the capacity of farmers and value addition through technical assistance.
Earlier in his presentation, the Chief of Party, Dominic Graham, said the rationale behind the policy document, is to facilitate the promotion of investments, remove all unnecessary control and create an atmosphere that guarantees transparency while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in the state.