Farmers in Niger State may be the first group to receive N1 billion from the N200 billion national agric fund as the state government is set to release the fund for dry season farming. The commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Aminu Yusuf disclosed this in after the state Executive Council meeting which gave the approval for the disbursement to small scale farmers.

According to the commissioner, the benefiting farmers were thoroughly followed up by visiting their various farms in some locations to make sure that their claims were right and they were genuine farmers.

He explained that the final list would be submitted to Union Bank, which is the bank chosen by the state government to partner the government to ensure that farmers from the state access the fund.

While stating that the bank would make the final review of the benefiting farmers, he said the first set of beneficiaries would soon be given their money after the review is completed, adding that the disbursement of fund would continue.

Aminu said these to benefit in the first phase  were those who would engage in dry season farming, fish farming, livestock and poultry farming, adding that about N325 million would be given to the farmers.

Meanwhile, Niger State is to access N2.4 billion in order to pursue the 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programmes as against N1.2 billion, and N1.9 billion in 2008 and 2009 respectively. This was disclosed after the executive briefing.