Niger State launches food storage initiatives for farmers

Niger State government has partnered with Kitovu an agriculture-focused technology company to facilitate farming activities within small scale farmers in the state. Kitovu is an agriculture company that uses data to eliminate guesswork and supply chain inefficiencies in African agriculture.

Mrs Beatrice Benjamin, a coordinator of the scheme while discussing with voice of Nigeria during the launching in Minna the Niger state capital on Wednesday, stated that the scheme if fully accepted will enable farmers to make more money of their products through increased yields and access to markets.

“Kitovu aims to transform Africa into the hub that feeds the world by leveraging technology to solve problems that affect Africa’s agriculture all across the value chains, from farm to consumer, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 2- Zero hunger” said Mrs Beatrice

Kitovu according to her has adopt a market-driven approach to create relationships with major buyers, access information from them on what crop varieties they prefer and possible quantities they procure.

“We get in touch with peasant farmers who can work with us to grow precisely those varieties, she said.

Alhaji Ibrahim Panti, Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development in Niger State who commended the new initiative, said the state government will support the organisation in achieving its aims in partnership to enable farmers store farm produce in effective storage solutions to improve food security.

Panti who further advised farmers to take advantage of the project especially peasant farmers, said the state government was ready to partner with individual or corporate entity to support farmers in actualising a desired aim.

Malam Yusuf Gunduma, a farmer who appreciated the new initiative by Kitovu with the state government, However appealed on the need for the government to always assist peasant farmers with more initiatives to improve their farming activities.

Dominica Nwabufo