Niger State Announces Cooperative Bank for Women Farmers, Attracts Russian Agro Investment

News in Brief

• -Niger State plans to launch a Cooperative Bank in 2026 with ₦2 billion capital to offer affordable loans aimed particularly at women farmers, empowering them to scale up agricultural production.
• -Russian investors have shown keen interest in purchasing tropical foods directly from women farmers in Niger State, providing new income opportunities alongside government support through farm input distributions.

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has revealed plans to establish a Cooperative Bank focused solely on agriculture, aimed at supporting women farmers and the broader agricultural community in the state.

Bago announced this during the flag-off ceremony of the federal government’s distribution of farm inputs and equipment to small-scale farmers in Niger State to boost food security and reduce poverty.

He revealed that the Cooperative Bank of Niger would be launched in 2026 with an initial capital of ₦2 billion. The bank will provide affordable loans to farmers through cooperative associations, reducing the burden of high-interest rates and lending hardships.

“This initiative will target 2 million women in agriculture, helping transition many out of poverty. We will invite corporate organisations to support this effort,” Bago said.

He added that women farmers would also benefit from direct investment through a growing partnership with Russian investors.

FG's Farming Initiative Complements Niger State's Transformation Plans

Governor Bago also praised the federal government’s all-year-round farming initiative, as it complements Niger State's drive for agricultural transformation. “The support of the federal government will complement what the state is already doing in agriculture and will help address almost half of the challenges faced by farmers," he said.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Sabi, who was also present at the event, explained that the farm inputs distribution aimed to ease the cost of farming and promote food sovereignty by encouraging citizens to produce and consume locally grown food.

"He is doing wonders in the agricultural revolution and rightly so because the state has 76,000 kilometres of arable land and it is located within the Guinea Savannah, and there is no state that has this singular advantage, and they have the largest water body," he said, commending Bago.

“We believe if we are to promote all year round farming, as Niger State is the best model, and that is why we are here, and we are giving all of these items you are seeing here free of charge,” he added.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Marcus Ogunbiyi, noted that 35% of the inputs distributed were allocated to women farmers in line with national gender policies.

The equipment distributed at the event included herbicides, liquid fertilisers, pesticides, power tillers, irrigation water pumps, grinding machines, and tricycles, supporting small-scale farmers in improving productivity and reducing post-harvest losses.

The cooperative bank initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment, including strengthening partnerships with Russian businesses interested in Niger State's agricultural potential, further advancing women’s empowerment and economic growth in the sector.

Russia's Interest in Tropical Foods from Niger State's Women Farmers

Governor Bago also disclosed that discussions are underway with Russian investors to purchase tropical foods directly from women farmers in Niger State.

“We received a delegation of foreign investors from Russia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They were here, and they want tropical foods that our women can supply. So, imagine each woman planting one banana that the Russians want. We provide you with the seedlings to plant in your house; don’t go to the farm. We will teach you how to protect them. You’ll harvest it and we’ll obtain from you,” Bago said.

He described how women can plant crops like banana, mango, guava, cashew, and pawpaw at home using seedlings provided by the government and a monthly support of ₦100,000, depending on crop choice. This, according to the governor, would empower them to become self-sustaining while contributing to national food security.