Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that the State government has earmarked 20,000 hectares of land to upscale the production of sugar with Flour Mills of Nigeria, the owners of Sunti Golden Sugar Estate.

Governor Umaru Bago stated this when he received the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria (John G. Coumantaros) along with other foreign investors from Brazil, United States and South Africa who were in Minna for an overview of agricultural activities in the State.

The team of investors were taken to Tagwai Dam and the Tagwai Breeding and feedlots center where Farmer Umaru Bago disclosed his administration’s plans to expand sugar and crop production to meet up with the target of feeding the Nation.

He said, the collaboration with the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria (John G. Coumantaros) will change the entire landscape of agriculture market system in Nigeria as the state is focused on the infrastructural and institutional development in handling food for export and local consumption.

He equally expressed optimism that the collaboration especially with the team from Brazil put together by Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria (John G. Coumantaros) aligns with The Niger State Livestock Modernization Program, which is built on Strategic Partnership – Building bridges for effective South-South technological transfer Nigeria – Brazil which aims to transform and modernize the livestock sector by addressing critical challenges across Pasture management, Pasture seed production, feed availability, animal health improvement, improve genetic and reproduction, milk and meat value chain improvement, this initiative focuses on enhancing productivity, sustainability, and economic resilience especially for headers, women, youth in rural areas. By combining innovative strategies, infrastructure investment, and capacity-building programs, the project provides a comprehensive roadmap to overcome existing bottlenecks.

He again reiterated his administration’s commitment to collaborating with development partners as the state is willing to use its vast natural resources through its water bodies and earth dams to provide water needed for all year-round production.

Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros, in his remarks described Governor Umaru Bago as a tremendous and visionary leader who has transitioned the Agro industry in the whole of Nigeria.

He said the collaboration with the Niger State government will also transform the livelihoods of farmers through various agriculture programs as the partnership will as well help in reshaping the state’s eco system in sugar and production of seeds that will be evenly distributed to farmers.

Other development partners that spoke expressed enthusiasm with the opportunity to collaborate with the state and help in ensuring that the vision of the Farmer Governor through his agricultural revolution is achieved.