The Federal Government and the Niger State Government have begun an enumeration exercise to identify farmers who will receive ₦300,000 each under the FarmerMoni scheme.
The intervention is part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), implemented through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). The exercise was flagged off in Minna on Saturday alongside training for GEEP desk officers drawn from the state’s 25 local government areas.
GEEP National Programme Manager, Hamza Baba, said the interest-free loans would help small-scale farmers purchase agricultural inputs, improve productivity and increase output.
The registration exercise will cover 600 farmers involved in crop cultivation, poultry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture. Trained desk officers will identify and verify applicants, capturing their photographs, biometrics, National Identification Numbers (NIN) and farm locations.
Each selected beneficiary is expected to receive ₦300,000. The loan is repayable within one year, with repayment scheduled to begin six months after farming activities commence.
Baba said the agency would monitor how the funds are used and ensure repayment in collaboration with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) officials and local government desk officers.
The state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ibrahim Inga, described the intervention as support for Niger’s poverty reduction efforts. He said the involvement of stakeholders would promote transparency and help ensure that genuine farmers benefit.
The Governor’s Special Adviser on Social Investment Programme, Hauwa Mohammed, said the exercise was part of the state’s implementation of GEEP, which also includes MarketMoni and TraderMoni.
She said desk officers had received tablets to capture farmers and their farmlands, helping to prevent fictitious entries.
How to benefit
The exercise is being conducted through trained GEEP desk officers across Niger State’s 25 local government areas. Eligible farmers should make enquiries directly through their designated local government desk officers and provide accurate identity and farm details when approached. The announcement does not provide a public online application link.