By Samuel
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday launched the USAID Nigeria Feed the Future Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services.
The $15.6 million project, to be run between 2020 and 2025, is expected to benefit at least two million smallholder farmers in Benue, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Cross River, Delta and Ebonyi States.
The extension service and advisory will cover the production of maize, rice, soya beans and cowpea in addition to aquaculture
The Director of Economic Growth and Environment Office, USAID Nigeria, Colin Dreizin at a virtual launch explained that the project seeks to disseminate messaging on best practices and resources to smallholder farmers.
Dreizin noted that the project will also provide a template for agribusiness in the country to improve their access to the latest science-based agricultural products and technologies and services.
Speaking during the launch, Minster of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono, explained that dwindling financial resources and the adverse realities of climate change present big challenges, especially to smallholders who are the bulk of primary agricultural producers in Nigeria.
Nanono noted that the project was important to leverage on the capacity of Nigerian smallholders as well as integrate ICT into extension service delivery.
He added that a private-sector led agricultural extension system was consistent with the government plans to rebrand agriculture.
He added, “We can only do this by creating a diversified economy where agriculture takes a center stage. This will only be realised if the private sector is integrated into extension service.
“This is why we are coming up with this innovative agricultural extension programme. It will certainly complement our efforts to promote a strong agricultural sector to meet the challenge of food and nutritional security in Nigeria.”
In his presentation, Ben Odoemena, Chief of Party of Winrock International Abuja, an implementing partner for the project, explained that the scheme would empower 280 Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) to provide improved extension services to smallholder farmers.
Among other objectives, the project will also help to strengthen the linkages between research institutions, public and private extension providers and the agricultural value chain stakeholders.
The project, which is to be implemented in three phases with increased farmer engagement at each level, is also expected to return $300 million in increased sales by 2025, Odoemenea added.
