Niger distributes motorcycles to agric workers
The Niger State government yesterday distributed 320 motorcycles to agric extension service workers to enable them reach out to rural farmers on new farming technologies.
The Commissioner for Agriculture Professor Kuta Yahaya said, yesterday, at the second phase of distribution of 128 motorcycles in Minna that the present administration had helped extension workers more than any other administration.
He said in the first phase, 192 motorcycles were distributed with priority given to extension workers, adding that the state government considered agricultural extension work as a key to agricultural regeneration.
He said the exercise was aimed at easing mobility problems encountered by the workers.
The Managing Director, Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA), Baba Kutigi Madagu, said the 128 motorcycles were distributed by the state government in collaboration with donor agencies.
According to him, 20 percent of the motorcycles would be distributed to female workers.
“The motorcycles were distributed to facilitate the dissemination of improved technologies to farmers in rural areas with ease”, he said.
Madugu added that 100 of the motorcycles were purchased by NAMDA, six donated by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and two were acquired by the Agricultural Extension Transformation Agenda unit of the federal government.