The Federal Government has signed a 158.15 million dollar financing agreement to implement a major agricultural value chain programme across nine states in northern Nigeria. The deal, sealed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the French Development Agency, and the Nigerian government.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who witnessed the signing, said the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fighting poverty, strengthening food security, and empowering farmers. The affected states are Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The project is expected to benefit around 3.1 million household members and create over 30,000 jobs. It will support the commercial cultivation of crops like wheat and maize, as well as investment in irrigation, storage, and processing. IFAD’s country director, Dede Ekoue, said the programme would also promote climate-smart agriculture and digital innovation.
The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari described the agreement as a milestone under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the programme’s rollout.
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