Stakeholders invests $16.8m to boost agricultural productivity for two million small holder farmers in Nigeria

The USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity says it has invested $16.8 million to improve agricultural practices for two million smallholder farmers in seven states in Nigeria.

The states are Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger.

The project is a 5-year development initiative funded by USAID and PIND. It works with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate learning, replication, and scaling of alternative models of extension to increase access to and adoption of improved agricultural technologies.

Mr. Ben Odoemena, the Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity Chief of Party, stated this at a media roundtable for the National Impact Workshop on Innovative Market-led Extension Services Delivery, on Monday in Abuja.

According to Odoemena, the project is a collaborative effort between the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He said the initiative, which promotes digital solutions and improved technologies for agriculture, will yield the greatest value for MSMEs and smallholder farmers.

As the project, which started in 2020, will be completed next year, the Chief of Party said it was necessary to share its impact with key stakeholders within and outside Nigeria to catalyze adoption, scaling, and sustainability across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “The project has identified 39 most impactful practices (MIPs) as key extension innovation messages or business solutions that MSMEs need to reach smallholder farmers to enhance their capacity.

“It works with 311 MSMEs who commercialize the MIPs and incorporate extension messaging to reach more farmers, enhance transaction volumes, and grow their businesses. Through this process, the 311 MSMEs were able to provide inputs and extension services on the most impactful practices/improved agricultural practices to 2,021,468 smallholder farmers (69% males, 33% women, and 31% youth), increasing productivity and income by more than 100%.

“About 70% of the improved agricultural practices are climate-smart, helping farmers adapt to or build resilience against climate change.

“A total of 1,088 gainful jobs were created by the MSMEs, mainly for youths, to cope with increasing demand for agricultural inputs and extension services as the number of farmers in their business network expands.

“The Extension Activity also worked with universities and state ADPs to integrate digital extension into the agricultural curriculum and public sector systems.”

Additionally, the Director of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Dr. Deola-Tayo Lordbanjou, commended the USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity for carrying out this project in Nigeria.

Lordbanjou, who was represented by Mr. Ayodele Olawumi, said the National Impact Workshop, to be convened in Abuja on Wednesday, will reveal the impact of the project to relevant stakeholders and partners.

On his part, the Associate Director of Winrock International, Jean-Pierre Rousseau, affirmed that the project will improve productivity and income for small-scale farmers.