FG, IFAD, AFD new project targets 456,000 northern farmers

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the French Development Agency (AFD) are working together to commence the implementation of the US$ 183.1 million Value Chain programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN). The  benefiting states are  Borno, Bauchi , Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoko, Yobe,  Zamfara and […]

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the French Development Agency (AFD) are working together to commence the implementation of the US$ 183.1 million Value Chain programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN).

The  benefiting states are  Borno, Bauchi , Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoko, Yobe,  Zamfara and implementation schedule to commence in August 2025, lasting for the next  eight (8) years.

It is designed to reach an estimated 456,000 smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs  directly with 40% women, 60% youth, 10% People with disabilities (PWD) and 5% IDP returnees.

With a total approved  budget of US$ 183.1 million,  IFAD will invest US$86.7 million, AFD 75.8 million, the FG US$12 million while the beneficiaries are expected  to contribute  US$8.6 million.

At the validation workshop organised by the  partners (FG, IFAD and AFD) in collaboration with the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Abuja, Wednesday, stakeholders deliberated on the findings  of the  project’s complimentary studies.

The Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Securiy, Alhaji  Bukar Musa,  who represented the  Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said that the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN)  is designed to uplift vulnerable populations by strengthening value chains, enhancing agricultural productivity, and increasing access to marketing.

“In line with the Presidential Emergency Declaration on Nigeria’s Food Security, the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), the Food System Transformation Pathways and the 8-point Renewed Hope Agenda, the VCN will reduce poverty, enhance nutrition and resilience of rural populations in nine (9) northern states of Nigeria.”

The Country Director, IFAD Nigeria, Mrs Dede Ekoue,  said the Project Implementation Manual, which would guide the project implementation in the 9 states had been developed.

She noted that once the necessary documents are signed work will commence adding that the “urgency in launching the implementation of the VCN Program” was to “support of government ongoing efforts for sustainable and inclusive development in the North.”

Mrs Ekoue added that ”this collaborative and systematic approach with development partners and UN agencies fosters the scaling up and efficiency on investment in support of national priorities for agri-food systems transformation and sustainable development along the Humanitarian, Development Peace Nexus in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNDSDCF) and AFD Nigeria Country Intervention Strategy.”  Ms Ekoue stated.

In her speech, Ms Sally A. Ibrahim, Project Manager, representing AFD’s Country Director in Nigeria, said that the validation workshop marked the successful completion of the studies intended to facilitate the operational implementation of the VCN program, which seeks to promote inclusive economic opportunities for vulnerable population and to tackle food and nutritional insecurity issues in the North.

She stated that the agency  support to the sector in Nigeria is mainly focus on improving rural access and agri-markets.