Earlier in the week, the Government of Niger State, through Niger Foods at the sideline of World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, USA, signed a landmark ten years Strategic Partnership MOU with Bayer AG aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural landscape of Niger State and Nigeria in the next couple of years.

Bayer AG is one of the world’s largest multinational Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Agriculture companies headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. It has over 150 years of experience providing tailored solutions for farmers to plant, grow, and protect their harvests using less land, water, and energy.

With a shared vision of ‘Feeding the Nation’ and ‘Health for All, Hunger for None,’ the partnership memorandum of Understanding seeks to improve agricultural sustainability, productivity, and market focus. Through innovative solutions, global market access, and robust collaboration frameworks, the alliance anticipates significant economic growth, social upliftment, and environmental resilience within Niger State and Nigeria.

At this historical event, His Excellency Mohammed Umaru Bago, the Farmer Governor of Niger State, and Matthias Berninger, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability at Bayer Global, acknowledge that the partnership will trigger a cascade of benefits for Niger State and Nigeria, from supporting environmental resilience and productivity to ensuring food safety and promote economic growth.

While Niger Foods aspires to spearhead an efficient, profitable agricultural business that not only dominates the local value chain but also sets benchmarks for agricultural practices in Nigeria, with a special focus on maize, soya beans, tomatoes, onions, and other vegetable production, Bayer AG on the other hand, will bring to the table, its commitment to leveraging innovative agricultural solutions to enhance food security, farmers’ well-being, and environmental sustainability.

Starting July 2024, Bayer AG will play a pivotal role in facilitating development financing, essential for the phased implementation strategy guided by the 1/10/100 strategy, ensuring scalable and sustainable growth of the initiative. The initiative is looking at 2,000,000 farmers by 2030 and utilizing approximately 500,000 hectares of land.

The partnership between Bayer and Niger Foods within the context of Niger State’s agricultural landscape promises to unlock the state’s potential as a leader in sustainable agricultural production, agribusiness, and green initiatives in Nigeria. By harnessing the state’s diverse agricultural capabilities, logistical advantages, and commitment to sustainability, this partnership is set to have a significant impact on food security, economic development, and the well-being of the local population, paving the way for a prosperous agricultural future for households, youth and women in Nigeria.