Niger, Bayer AG sign MoU on agric upscaling

Niger State government has signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bayer AG on agricultural revolution to benefit two million farmers.

The agreement signing took place at the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring meetings in Washington DC, United States.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State governor, Bologi Ibrahim yesterday, the partnership is under the shared vision of ‘Feeding the Nation’ for the state government and ‘Health for All, Hunger for None,’ for the multinational company.

According to the MoU, the firm is expected to provide innovations in agriculture to improve on food production in line with the “feed the nation policy of the present administration in the state.

Niger State through the Niger Foods Limited will sparehead an efficient and profitable agric business with focus on maize, soya beans, tomatoes and onions among others, using about 500,000 hectares of land.

The collaboration, which will be carried out in phases, would be guided by a progressive and sustainable strategy of 1/10/100.It further added that the deal will also boost global market access for the State to significant economic growth which will not only be beneficial to Niger State, but Nigeria in general. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Science and sustainability Bayer AG, Matthias Berninger at the event both agreed that the partnership will be of immense benefit to Niger State and Nigeria, especially in supporting environmental resilience and productivity to ensuring food safety and promote economic growth.