FG, IFAD’s to engage 456,000 beneficiaries in food production

The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through the Value Chain in Northern Nigeria (VCN), would engage
about 456,000 beneficiaries in Northern Nigeria to boost food production, climate adaptive capacity, among others.

During the national launch of the design mission for VCN, funded by the Federal government, IFAD and French Development Agency (AFD), Mrs Dede Ekoue, Country Director, IFAD, stated that the programme which is in line with the president’s agenda for agribusiness transformation would involve 91,000 households in the northern states to get the 456,000 beneficiaries.

She said the design mission will assist to test on the field how best to achieve the objective, leverage on past success and existing best practices.

According to Ekoue, the project is aimed at enhancing the integration of farmers in agribusiness value chains.

She said this would facilitate women and youth agric entrepreneurship, foster partnership with the private sector, modernise agriculture through the use of digital solutions.

”This aims to harness the potential of agrifood systems for promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth , increase job creation and income through development of stronger, better integrated, inclusive and resilient value chains that boost rural development”, she added.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by the Director, Programme Coordinating Unit (PCU), Mr Bukar Musa, in his remarks, said the VCN aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals one, two, three and 13 among others.

The Minister noted that the VCN is with the food systems transformation agenda and the recent Presidential declaration of emergency in Nigeria’s food sector which require a multi-sectoral, multifaceted approach if we are to succeed.

“That it was also aligned to the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy, Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy, National Development Plan, and National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).

“The intervention is also in line with IFAD Policies and Corporate Priorities in the areas of its Strategic Framework, Strategy and Action Plan on Environment and Climate Change 2019 to 2025, and Nutrition Action Plan 2019 to 2025, among others,” Kyari said.