|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Home| NYSC Niger State| NYSC Bida Zone| The Power State| Bida Emirate| Bida Local Government| Institutions in Bida| Prospective (NYSC) corps members| NYSC National Directorate
(National Youth Service Corps)
NYSC-bida
|
The Power State {Niger State} History>>Geopraphical statistics>>Agricultural development>>Tourism>>Mineral resources>>Traditional Institution |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Agricultural development Niger State lies on latitude 3.20 East and Longitude 11.3 North and covers about 86,000 sq. km, or about 8.6 million hectares, representing 9.3% of the total land area of the country. Out of this, about 7 million-hectares (80%) are arable from which not more than 20% or 1.7 million hectares is actually cultivated for production of various food and cash crops. The state is endowed with abundant natural resources such as fertile soils, minerals, forest resources, rivers and good weather conditions well suited for growth of a large number of crop species, livestock and fish. According to the 1991 census, the state had a population of 2.482 million, with a population density of 30 persons per square km. This makes a large expanse of land available for cultivation and other purposes. Niger state is predominantly agricultural, with an estimated 80% of its population living in rural areas and earning their livelihood directly or indirectly from Agriculture. Estimated 400,000 farming households exist in Niger State with average farm holding of 3-5 hectares. Almost all soil types, typical of the Savannah regions of West Africa can be found in Niger State. They vary from the shallow soils found around the rocky terrain to deep soils of the Fadama valley. The deeper soils, which are of alluvium type although complex in nature, are amongst the best and have special potential for both rained and irrigated farming. The State experiences distinct dry and wet seasons. The length of wet season decreases from South to North with annual rainfall varying from 1600mm in the south to 1100mm in the north. The rainy season lasts for 5 to 6 months in the northern part and 7 to 8 months in the south beginning in April/May. The Dry season period starts in October/November and extends to March/April of the succeeding year. It is often dominated by Northeast trade wind, which brings in its trail the Hamattan effects. The State’s agricultural output cuts across all crop horizons, including food and cash crops, major ones being Sorghum, Maize, Rice, Millet, Cowpea, Yam, cassava, Sweet potatoes, Groundnut, Cotton, Soyabeans, Sugarcane, Melon, Vegetables of all kinds (details). The average annual production of these crops however remains very low when compared to the State’s potentials. The State has ideal conditions for livestock development. Availability of vast grasslands and fodder, abundant water sources and increasing success in tsetse fly control favour the rearing of all kinds of livestock. There is equally tremendous potentials for fisheries development (capture and culture) due to availability of large water bodies mainly the Rivers Niger and Kaduna and their numerous tributaries. The State’s potential for Fadama development is also enormous. The state has an estimated 682,000 hectares of irrigable land out of which only 105,575 hectares (15%) have been developed with only about 26,000 hectares being cultivated annually. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HEALTH AND FOREST RESOURCES In Niger state the responsibility of implementing Government Agricultural policies fall within two Ministries viz: Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Health and Forest Resources. As a result the two ministries have the responsibility of identifying the immense natural resources of Niger State in particular and the economic development of Nation in general. The ministries have as their objectives the stimulation of agricultural production through small and large-scale farmers by formulating agricultural policies that will attain these objectives. NIGER STATE AGRICULTURAL POLICY THRUST The State government’s Agricultural policy is in line with the overall national policy thrust on Agriculture evolved by the present democratic administration after reviewing strategies and instruments previously adopted in the implementation of agricultural policy objectives. The new policy sought to lay a solid foundation for sustained increased in agricultural productivity and for enhancing output necessary for growth. The Niger State government primarily lays emphasis on the following activities: Ø Promotion of primary production of all items of agricultural produce through the provision of virile and effective extension service. Ø Promotion of the production and supply of inputs for crop, livestock, fish and forestry. Ø Ensuring access to lands by those who wish to engage in farming. Ø Development and management of the irrigation areas of large dams. Ø Management of impounded water and downstream structures of large dams. Ø Promotion of appropriate farm mechanisation. Ø Grazing Reserve development and access to water for livestock. Ø Training and manpower development. Ø Promotion of the uses Animal Traction Technology Ø Prevention of Control epizootic diseases and rendering of chemophilatic and therapeutic for livestock diseases. Ø Provision of Veterinary Public Health and meat inspection services across the state. Ø Control of plant pests and diseases. Ø Promotion of appropriate institutions for administering credits to small holders. Ø Maintenance of buffet stocks of agricultural commodities. Ø Ownership, management and control of forests held in trust for the local communities. The crop sub-sector constitutes the most dominant agricultural activity of farmers in Niger State. This is evidenced by the involvement of the overwhelming majority of farmers and the large areas put to the production of wide range of both food and cash crops in the state. The range and categories of food and cash crops produced in Niger State include cereals, green legumes, roots and tubers, oil seeds and nuts, vegetables, forestry and tree crops as well as fibres and beverages. The traditional cereal crops of Niger State include sorghum, maize, rice and millet while green legumes and pulses include Cowpea (beans) Bambaranut and Soybeans. Major roots and Tuber Crops of the state include Yam, Cassava, Cocoyam and Sweet potatoes while the major oil seeds include groundnut, melon and bean seed. The main fibre crops which grown mainly for industrial purposes include cotton and jute while spices and specially crops, such as pepper, ginger and sugarcane are grown in appreciable quantities. The main vegetable crops of the state include Okro, pepper, tomato, onion, carrot eggplant and leafy vegetables. Fruit and tree crops include mango, cashew, citrus, banana, guava and various naturally growing species of shear nut, locust bean and oil palm. Production of a range of these crops in all parts of the state reflects the ecological similarity of the state with little variation. While yam is predominant in the east and southern parts of the state, melon, rice and cassava predominate the south and southwester parts, the northern part is however cereal/legume based sorghum and maize are grown in virtually all parts of the state. The weather and ecology of the state favour the cultivation of combination of two or more of these crops. Agricultural production in the state is largely under traditional system of farming characterised by small size fragmented farm holdings (3-5 ha) mixed cropping, shifting cultivation, labour intensive methods and technologies. The state’s proximity to the nation’s capital coupled with good rail and road networks, good air transport and potential for water transport as well as good communication system provide the producers opportunity to market their produce anywhere within and outside the state. The sector ha recorded marginal growth rate over the years as a result of involvement of more people in farming, adoption of improved technologies, increase in inputs supply favourable price increment and positive government policies on agriculture. Factors affecting fast growth of the sector include; inadequate and or high cost of inputs, vagaries of weather, pest and diseases, poor capital base of the farmers, inadequate storage technology and poor funding of extension and research. Socio-cultural factors also hinder adoption of certain cultural practise for example the non-adoption of the stalks, which are used for building construction. Scarcity and or/high cost of inputs particularly fertilizer also contribute to the slow adoption of proven technologies. YIELD PER HECTARE OF MAJOR CROPS IN METRIC TONNES. 2003 – 2005
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND VETERINARY SERVICES Livestock Production is a Major activity of a vast majority of farmers in Niger State. As at 2004 the livestock population of the state at 1.814m cattle, 1.5 million sheep and 1.89m goats and in addition to about 6.5 million poultry including chicken, guinea fowl, turkey and doves (details). Production is largely by small holders under local traditional practices. The state however, has potential for large-scale production due to availability of abundant water sources and success in tsetse fly. Infact, the state has been certified to be free from tsetse fly. Attempts made towards large-scale production over the years include establishment of cattle ranch at Mokwa and establishment of grazing reserves at strategic locations to reduce Trans-humans by pastoralists. A list of Designated Grazing Reserves is contained below. Also efforts have been made to modernise production and processing techniques through establishment of a commercial abattoir at Mokwa and modern abattoir in each of the major towns of the state. A significant number of prinvately owned commercial diary, meat production and poultry farms have been established. Communal or group ownership of livestock is also on the increase. There is an assured market for all kind of livestock products in Niger State. The state has at least 2 major livestock markets in each senatorial district in addition to smaller ones established by the local government authorities. There are at least two major livestock control posts in the state where movement of livestock within and outside the state are monitored. Special Programmes In the livestock sub sector there is the Pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootic diseases (PACE), which is jointly sponsored by the European Union and Federal Government of Nigeria. It is designed to consolidate the eradication of Rinderpest in the country and to also control Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases, which is an aspect of the National Special Programme on Food Security, and to equally pay a key role in alleviation of poverty. The state is participating actively in this program LIVESTOCK POPULATION IN NIGER STATE
Niger State is blessed with abundant large water bodies including dams/reservoirs, flood plains of Rivers Niger and Kaduna and numerous streams. A good percentage of the population derives their livelihood from the water bodies through artisan fishing. An estimated 18,161.12 metric tones of fish is harvested annually from the water bodies. However, this figure can be substantially increased to an estimated 41,845.18 metric tones annually if the water bodies are properly dwindled over the years when compared with the state’s potential of water surface area of 436,196 Ha. This is further aggravated by the fact that fish is perishable in nature. once caught and taken out of the water, the process of spoilage is facilitated by fungi, bacteria and vermin attack, resulting in great economic loss to fishing folks. The Agricultural Development Project has continued to promote aquaculture under the National Agricultural Technology Support Project by promotion of homestead fish farming. Fishing gears and methods, fish preservation and processing, provision of fishing equipment and fingerling production. FORESTRY/AGRO-FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT Niger state has total land area of about 8,573,317 Ha, with only 6 percent of it under forest estate. This is a serious shortfall considering the 20 percent required for states stipulated in the agricultural policy of the country. The state fails under two distinct vegetation zones viz; Guinea and Sudan savannah. Large-scale plantation agriculture is not very common in the state. However, the Agricultural. Development Project continues to promote Agro-forestry development and soil conservation measures (sure as strip cropping, contour farming), provision of assorted tree crop seedlings produced in the nurseries. There are 106 constituted and gazetted Forest Reserves and two (2) game reserves in Niger State. Also there are three functional forest Nurseries at Minna, Kotangora and Bida, where Tree and flower are produced. One National Park being managed by Conservation Unit of Federal Ministry of Environment is situated at Borgu. The land span under forest plantation is above 5,416 hectares consisting of various tree species, which include: (i) Tectona grandis (Teak) (ii) Gmelina arborrea (iii) Cassia Siamea (iv) Eucalyplus Camadulensis INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHED TO FACILITATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION Niger/State Agricultural Development Project The Niger State Agricultural Development Project is an off shoot of the Bida Agricultural Development project, which was executed from June 1980 – June 1987. The main objectives of NSADP since it’s inception in 1988 to date are to strengthen agricultural services, improve the coverage and maintenance of supporting rural infrastructures, strengthen commercial services, and support the establishment of a viable financing agency similar to that supported by Bauchi Agricultural Development Project. It will also strengthen the capacity for policy formulation, planning and expenditure capacity for policy formulation, planning and expenditure programming in Ministry of Agriculture. The project continues to implement various programmes under commercial services. Extension services, Research, Rural roads, rural institutions development and women in Agriculture. College of Agriculture Mokwa The college of Agriculture, Mokwa was established in 1979 to produce the needed middle level manpower for the state in all respect of Agriculture. The College, which is under the Ministry, has 3 departments namely: General Agriculture, Animal Health and Husbandry and Home Economics. The College awards Higher/National Diploma and Certificates. They are fully accredited to National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Farm Institute The Ministry has 3 functional farm institutes located at Tegina, Nasko and Kuta. The students are secondary school leavers and are trained intensively on improved techniques of crop and livestock production through lectures and field practicals for 9 months. The graduates are expected to return to their various communities and establish their own farms and serve as models. SPECIAL PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS FOR INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION
Federal Sponsored Projects Recently the Federal Government has re-introduction some projects to be implemented by the state. These include Forest Reserve Management at Gbatagi communal woodlots, and industrial plantation. Federal Department of Forestry, F.A.O. in conjunction with all the States Forestry Department have now made it a policy for community participation in forestry activities to enhance proper protection and sustainable development. Kpashimi, Forest Reserve ManagementThis project was initiated by Forestry Monitoring, Evaluation and Co-ordinating Unit (FORMECU) a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Environment in 1997. The project was co-sponsored by ADB and World Bank with some financial support from the state government. This project pivoted on three components:- (i) Participatory approach (ii) Biodiversity conservation (iii) Sustainable management A baseline survey has been conducted and a management plan for 10 years was produced and is being implemented. FADAMA DEVELOPMENT Fadamas are the "floodplains" of the Niger and Kaduna rivers. The state has a total irrigation land area of 682,331 Ha of which only 105,556 Ha is put to use. It is estimated that about 120,000 Ha can be developed through harnessing of sub-surface water using wash bores or tube wells while the balance can be developed using river diversion modules, flood control structures and surface pumping. The extensive flood plains at the southern boundaries of the state, availability’s of large water bodies (Rivers Niger and Kaduna, Gbakogi, Gurara, chanchaga), dams/reservoirs (Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba), numerous streams as well as the distinct 6 months of dry weather offer great opportunity for dry season cultivation of rice, sugarcane, maize, pulses and assorted vegetables. Only about 25% of the potential Fadama land in the state has been developed. Theses include structures established by the Agricultural Development Project under MSADP II and NFDP by establishment of small irrigation facilities such as wash bores, tube wells and diversion modules, state MANR through provision of medium scale irrigation schemes (8000 Ha) located at Rabba, Chanchaga, Zara, Lioji, Edo Lapai, Agaie and Guzan and by the FGN (22,000 Ha) located at Tunga Kawo, Swashi, Auna and Kagara (details). Fadama potential is not fully utilized due to the deteriorating condition of existing irrigation infrastructure which themselves are not adequate. National Special Programmed for Food Security (NSPFS) The National Special Programmed for Food Security (NSPFS) is funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and jointly implemented by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations and the States of the Federation. Like in other states. Niger State is implementing the programme in three (3) sites. The intervention areas are water use, livestock, crop production, food nutrition, fisheries and evaluation. The major activity undertaken is implementation of the rain-fed aspect of the vitalisation plan prepared for the project. NATIONAL FADAMA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME II (FADAMA II) Niger State is one of the participating states in the National Fadama Development Programme II. Fadama Development Project is an international Development Association (IDA) accredit facility assisted project under second National Fadama Development Project (NFDP II) with co-parallel financing sources from the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the state government and local communities i.e. participating local government areas and communities in terms of their counterpart contribution. It is to be implemented in six years period (i.e. 2004 – 2009) with 2004 being the project year one (PY1). However, Development Credit Agreement (DCA) for the project was signed between representatives of the World Bank and that of Federal Government of Nigeria on 17th February 2004 and the project was declared effective nationally on the 29th May, 2004 by the world Bank. The project is being implemented in eleven participating local government areas of the state these are Agaie, Lapai, Katch, Lavun, Chanchaga, Suleja, Shiroro, Mariga. Magama, Kontagora, and Borgu for all users of Fadama resources, that is farmers, pastoralist, fish folks, hunters fruit gatherers and service providers. Activities undertaken by the state Fadama Development Office so far include recruitment and training of 40 facilitators and sensitisation and capacity building of all stakeholders as well as formation and identification of Fadama User Groups (FUGs) and Fadama Community Association (FCAs). Also Local Development Plan (LDP) have been articulated and approved for some local government by the national office. As part of the state government counterpart contribution the sum of N15.0m was released to the programme in 2004. Presidential Programme for Boosting Cassava and Rice Production, Processing and Marketing In view of the state’s potentials in cassava and rice production (details)and the need to take advantage of the presidential initiatives on crops development, particularly cassava and rice, it has become necessary for the state to embark on a programme aimed at boosting the production, processing and marketing of the crops in the state. The programme when fully operational will be of immense benefit to the state. It will lead to creation of more employment opportunities as more farmers will be engaged and more small-scale cassava and rice-processing industries will be established. Participating farmers and other individuals benefiting directly or indirectly from the programme will increase their income thereby improving their socio-economic status. Rice Alliance The Rice Alliance is a USAID facilitated public-private partnership involving IITA, IFDC, WARDA, CANDEL, UNION BANK, SG2000, NCRI, VeeTee Rice, HANIGHA, RIFAN, Global on Niger Rice, Golden Fertilizer and ADP’s in support of the presidential initiative on Rice. The Rice Alliance aims to solve the traditional problems of Rice Production and processing in Nigeria, which include high production costs, inaccessible production input poor access to credit poor grain quality among others. Farmers and processor’s are assisted to develop brands of domestic rice that can compete with imported brands in quality and price 500 farmers in Niger State are beneficiaries of this programme. Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP) Niger State is participating in the programme, which it co-sponsors along with Federal Government of Nigeria and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The intervention of this programme in the state is on Yam, Cassava and Sweet Potatoes and is in the areas of; - Multiplication and distribution of improved planting materials - Promotion of adaptive research and extension - Diversification of processing options and marketing - Programme Management and Evaluation SOME OF THE CROPS COMMONLY CULTIVATED IN NIGER STATE
back to topDESIGNATED GRAZING RESERVES IN NIGER STATE AND THEIR LOCATION
THREATENED SPECIES
(plants and animals)
History>>Geopraphical statistics>>Agricultural development>>Tourism>>Mineral resources>>Traditional Institution
Home| NYSC Niger State| NYSC Bida Zone| The Power State| Bida Emirate| Bida Local Government| Institutions in Bida| Prospective (NYSC) corps members| NYSC National Directorate
© 2006 NYSC bida. P.O. Box 93, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
This Site is donated by
Arinze Ezeokafor to support activities of NYSC in Bida.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
