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  • FG, IFAD launch second supervision mission to fast-track SAPZ implementation

    FG, IFAD launch second supervision mission to fast-track SAPZ implementation

    The federal government of Nigeria and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Tuesday commenced the second joint supervision mission of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, renewing their commitment to driving reforms that will reshape the country’s agricultural and agro-industrial sectors.

    Speaking at the opening session in Abuja, IFAD Country Director for Nigeria, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, described the mission as a strategic moment of reflection, recalibration, and renewed commitment to strengthening the SAPZ programme, which she noted is a flagship initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The SAPZ programme, co-financed by the Federal Government, IFAD, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), aims to structurally transform Nigeria’s food systems through agro-industrialisation, enterprise development, market integration, job creation, and rural prosperity.

    Providing an update on progress since the last mission, Ekoue announced that 41,204 smallholder farmers and value chain actors have been profiled across Ogun and Kano states, adding to profiling exercises carried out in 2024 and 2025.

    According to her, 14,655 farmers have so far received inputs, training, and digital tools, including climate advisory services. In total, 15,664 beneficiaries comprising 9,353 men and 6,311 women, including 3,955 youth, have been supported under the programme.

    She noted that women constitute half of the profiled actors in Ogun State, while youth represent nearly a quarter of those captured in Kano.

    Ekoue highlighted the progress made under IFAD’s 4P (public–private–producer partnership) model, including the establishment of the Multistakeholder Agribusiness Forum (MAF) and the signing of 24 Memoranda of Understanding linking cassava, rice, tomato, and groundnut farmers to guaranteed offtakers.

    “These partnerships are helping to reduce commercialization risks, strengthen market access, and safeguard farmers’ incomes,” she said.

    The programme is also advancing gender and nutrition initiatives through household engagements and food demonstrations targeted at women.

    As part of IFAD’s Digital Innovation Action Plan, digital tools have been deployed to support climate-smart agriculture, delivering digital climate information services to nearly 16,000 farmers and processors, while all profiling and geospatial mapping activities are now fully digitised.

    With implementation gathering momentum, Ekoue said the supervision mission would assess achievements, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure synergy between federal and state-level activities.

    Also speaking, Director of the Department of Development Partners Projects at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Adebola Iluromi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the SAPZ initiative, describing it as pivotal to Nigeria’s transition from raw commodity production to competitive agro-processing.

    “The SAPZ model addresses decades-long challenges of low processing capacity and weak market linkages. It is a cornerstone of our agricultural industrialisation agenda, and Nigerians are eager to see fully functional agro-industrial zones that add real value and reduce post-harvest losses,” she said.

    Iluromi emphasised that the mission provides an important platform to review field progress, identify challenges, and strengthen coordination across all SAPZ states.

    She urged participants, including state officials, IFAD staff, consultants, and the Country Programme Advisory Team, to engage with transparency and technical rigor.

    The Ministry, she assured, remains committed to providing the oversight, technical support, and intergovernmental coordination required to drive the programme forward.

    “Together, we can make SAPZ an engine of growth that empowers smallholder farmers, stimulates agro-industrial investment, creates jobs, and strengthens national food security,” she added.

  • Climate-smart agribusiness key to Jobs, Growth, says IFAD

    Climate-smart agribusiness key to Jobs, Growth, says IFAD

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has stressed that public-private partnerships (PPPs) in climate-smart agribusiness are vital for transforming climate challenges into opportunities for economic growth, youth employment, and sustainable development.

    IFAD Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, stated this in Abuja at the Federal Government/IFAD Best Practice Workshop on PPPs for Climate Information Services and consultations on the Climate Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience Project (CSAPR).

    Speaking on the workshop’s theme, “Leveraging PPPs for Climate Information Services (CIS) and advancing consultations on the Climate Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience Project,” Ekoue said the initiative was designed to build a roadmap that connects local realities to national priorities while aligning with continental and global commitments.

    She emphasised that climate information is “life-saving, productivity-enhancing, and resilience-building,” noting that farmers cannot adapt without timely and reliable data on planting, harvesting, and extreme weather. Similarly, agribusinesses, she said, need accurate data, early warning systems, and risk management tools to scale sustainably.

    Ekoue recalled that at the recent UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, leaders reinforced the need for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems, with Nigeria playing a leadership role in Africa’s transition toward climate-smart agriculture through digital solutions and partnerships.

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    “At the continental level, the Kampala Declaration underscored the importance of resilience, innovation, and placing women and youth at the centre of agricultural transformation,” she said. “Regionally, Nigeria’s role is pivotal. Globally, the stakes are high. Climate change is not a distant threat but a daily reality redefining risks while presenting opportunities for innovation and shared prosperity.”

    She also commended the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for strengthening resilience and linking science to policy and practice, stressing that deeper collaboration with the private sector would ensure climate information becomes affordable, accessible, and actionable for smallholder farmers.

    On his part, Prof. Charles Onosike, Director-General of NiMet, described climate-smart PPPs as crucial for embedding climate risks, adaptation, and mitigation into infrastructure and agribusiness development.

    He highlighted NiMet’s recent launch of the Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) Maproom, which provides real-time forecasts, historical climate data, and tailored advisories for farmers. The tool, he said, will revolutionise access to climate information, boost productivity, and enhance resilience.

    Onosike added that NiMet is engaging private sector actors across the Climate Information Service value chain to establish sustainable Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) that will deliver accurate, timely information to smallholder farmers.

    He acknowledged IFAD’s long-standing support to Nigeria through projects such as the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).

  • IFAD to lift Niger Delta agric business with training of NDDC officials

    IFAD to lift Niger Delta agric business with training of NDDC officials

    Participants from Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Imo states-three new states integrated into the LIFE-ND framework-have benefitted from a five-day intensive training aimed at strengthening sustainable agribusiness across the Niger Delta.

    The training was organized under the FGN/NDDC/IFAD-assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) initiative, for 60  staff members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    It is part of efforts to equip its officials with practical knowledge and modern tools to oversee and support agricultural development in their states.

    The programme, which held in Sapele, Delta State focuses on building technical and operational capacity across key value chains, including aquaculture, cassava, oil palm, poultry, and rice production.

     It draws participants from Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers states—three of the newest states integrated into the LIFE-ND framework.

    National Project Coordinator, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, represented by Mrs. Ngozi Ohaechesi said the programme marks a major milestone in strengthening institutional leadership within the NDDC.

    “Your presence here shows your commitment to improving the lives of people in the Niger Delta through sustainable agriculture,” she told the participants.

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    According to her, LIFE-ND, a six-year-old initiative supported by IFAD, seeks to transform rural communities by using an incubation model—training youth and women under experienced agribusiness mentors.

    The goal is to boost income, improve food security, and create jobs across the nine Niger Delta states.

    Her words: “This training is not just a formality, we expect Songhai to bring in their deep expertise in modern agribusiness systems.

     Our aim is to build skills that will directly impact food production and livelihoods at the grassroots.”

    Representing NDDC’s Agriculture and Fisheries Directorate, Mr. Frank Tonye stressed the need for continuity

    “Our senior directors will phase out in time. We need our younger officers to be fully equipped to carry the baton.

    This is not just about now, it’s about preparing for the future of this programme,” he said.

    He emphasized the value of staying aligned with IFAD’s goals, noting that shared training experiences improve synergy between partner institutions and ensure successful outcomes for ongoing programmes.

    Mr. Isaac Oghogho, General Manager of Adventium Songhai Delta Ltd., said the training is an opportunity to address real-world challenges in agriculture. “We’ll use aquaculture to evaluate broader issues in the value chain—finance, sustainability, logistics, and market access.”

    Participants expressed optimism about the impact of the training. “We’re not here for theory alone,” said Mrs Onyekwere Ogechi, a staff member from NDDC headquarters.

     “Once we’re done, we’ll become incubators ourselves—passing the knowledge to others.”

    The LIFE-ND project is being implemented across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states, with coordination led by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMFAS) and technical support from NDDC as co-funder. Dr. Sanni’s National Project Coordinating Office oversees implementation from Port Harcourt.

    LIFE-ND aligns with Nigeria’s Green Alternative policy for agriculture and the NDDC’s regional development goals.

     At its core, the project aims to build resilient rural economics driven by skilled youth, modern agricultural techniques, and strong institutional frameworks.

  • Fed Govt, IFAD launch learning route on agric innovation

    Fed Govt, IFAD launch learning route on agric innovation

    The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has launched a high-level learning route on the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program.

    The event, held in Benue State, attracted a wide range of stakeholders across the agriculture value chain, including farmer groups, agro-investors, development partners, and government officials.

    Anchored in the 4Ps Model, Public-Private-Producer Partnership, the learning route offers a dynamic platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, deepen collaboration, and scale best practices in agribusiness development.

    According to the federal government, the program is aimed at spotlighting Benue’s success in implementing the CAF model through the Value Chain Development Program (VCDP), with a view to informing SAPZ implementation nationwide.

    In his remarks, the State’s Project Coordinator Mr. Emmanuel Igbaukum commended Benue’s role as Nigeria’s “food basket,” expressing confidence that the state’s experience would serve as a blueprint for agricultural success across the country.

    Delivering the keynote on behalf of the National Program Coordinator of SAPZ, National Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist, Shehu Babangida, highlighted Benue’s outstanding performance in deploying CAF principles.

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     “Benue has distinguished itself as one of the top-performing states in implementing CAF. This visit is an opportunity for others to learn from their innovations and commitment to inclusive agribusiness,” he said.

    While SAPZ will adopt a broader implementation framework, officials confirmed that it will build on the CAF legacy through a rebranded platform called the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), aligning with SAPZ’s expansive goals while preserving participatory ideals.

    Dr. Unoja Ameh, head of the Country Program Advisory Team, underscored the learning route as a cornerstone for adaptive program design. “Learning from the field and sharing experiences among peers is critical to scaling sustainable agricultural transformation,” he noted.

    Key objectives of the learning route include; srengthening the 4Ps model across agricultural programs, facilitating resource and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.

    Others are improving access to markets, inputs, finance, and extension services for smallholder farmers, promoting sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth and enhancing gender and youth participation in the sector.

    However, second day of the learning route saw participants engaging in peer-to-peer field learning in Gwer East Local Government Area, where they are expected to interact directly with farming communities and observe successful CAF implementations on the ground.

  • FOST hails Agric Minister Kyari’s emergence as IFAD vice chairman

    FOST hails Agric Minister Kyari’s emergence as IFAD vice chairman

    Friends of Seyi Tinubu (FOST) has congratulated the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari on his election as the Vice Chairman, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). 

    A statement by FOST president, Com. Adejorin Tai Manuel, said the prestigious appointment was a testament to Kyari’s exceptional leadership, dedication to agricultural transformation, and commitment to ensuring food security in Nigeria and beyond.  

    The statement noted that since assuming office, Kyari has worked tirelessly to reposition Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a key driver of economic growth. 

    According to the statement, under Kyari’s leadership, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has implemented strategic policies aimed at boosting local food production, reducing post-harvest losses, improving rural infrastructure, and expanding mechanized farming. 

    “His commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s agriculture is evident in initiatives to combat the effects of climate change.  

    “Furthermore, he has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with international organizations, development agencies, and private-sector stakeholders to enhance agricultural financing and rural development. 

    “His support for smallholder farmers through improved access to credit, fertilizers, and innovative farming techniques has contributed significantly to increasing productivity and ensuring food affordability for Nigerians. 

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    “His leadership has also played a crucial role in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, promoting agro-processing, and enhancing export opportunities for Nigerian farmers.  

    “His election as IFAD Vice Chairman is not just a personal achievement but a reflection of the confidence the international community has in his expertise and Nigeria’s growing influence in global agricultural governance. 

    “It is also a call to greater responsibility, one that requires him to intensify efforts in championing policies that uplift smallholder farmers, enhance sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthen Nigeria’s role in global food security initiatives.  

    “As he assumes this new position, we urge Senator Kyari to see it as an opportunity to further project Nigeria’s agricultural potential on the world stage, attract increased investment in the sector, and ensure that his tenure leaves a lasting impact on rural development across Africa. 

    “The task ahead is enormous, but we are confident that with his vision, dedication, and strategic leadership, he will rise to the challenge and continue to make Nigeria proud.  

    “Once again, we congratulate Senator Abubakar Kyari on this well-deserved appointment and assure him of our continued support in his efforts to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.”

  • Over 3 rural population face acute poverty, hunger -IFAD

    Over 3 rural population face acute poverty, hunger -IFAD

    A staggering three billion rural population worldwide face acute poverty and hunger, Alvaro Lario, President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has said.

    Lario who lamented that these populace are daily confronted with challenges like hunger, debt, inequality, and climate change, urged world leaders at the UN’s Summit of the Future in New York to “recognise that a lack of resources is not the greatest barrier – it is the political determination to invest in solutions at the scale needed.”

    Lario underscores the need to reform the global financial architecture to fund climate adaptation and food systems transformation, ensuring fairness and efficiency to build a better future.

    “Global challenges such as hunger and poverty are realistic goals that can be overcome if we share the great wealth of resources available and work together to reverse growing inequalities,” added Lario.

    The President of IFAD also reminded leaders that 3 billion people live in rural areas and are disproportionately affected by extreme poverty and hunger. He highlighted the need to significantly increase financial support to small-scale farmers – who produce one-third of the world’s food.

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    “It’s not just about the money, but about how we use existing resources. We need to be smart. Finance must flow to where it is needed most. The farm and the first mile are where we should be investing: in rural roads, in irrigation systems, in markets, as well as in public goods and people,” said Lario.

    According to him, there is a significant financing gap towards rural areas and specifically in climate adaptation. At the same time, wealthy countries spend US$630 billion annually on subsidy policies that distort markets, hurt poor farmers, and damage the environment. IFAD proposes redirecting these incentives to promote healthy, nutritious, and affordable food.

    With a range of innovative financial solutions designed to bridge current funding gaps, IFAD is using methods like “risk-sharing” and guarantees to channel financing from the private sector to rural populations and food systems.

    As the first UN specialised agency to receive a credit rating and issue sustainable bonds on capital markets, IFAD has raised over US$646 million since 2022 from pension funds and insurers interested in investing in a better world.

    IFAD is the only UN specialised agency and international financial institution that assembles development finance to meet SDG 1 (No poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero hunger), leveraging the Fund’s unique expertise in supporting small-scale producers, boosting their resilience and improving livelihoods in rural areas.

  • IFAD ‘has committed’ $1.5b to Nigeria’s agriculture

    IFAD ‘has committed’ $1.5b to Nigeria’s agriculture

    International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has said it spent $1.5 billion supporting agriculture  since its existence in Nigeria 45 years ago.

     Associate Vice President, Dr. Donal Brown, in Abuja, informed that the organisation commits about $110 million every three years in the country, while its portfolio stands at about $400 million.

    Brown said IFAD and Nigeria are designing a project to support food production value chain in northern Nigeria and climate adaptation.

    Noting his visit to Nigeria  was to engage with the government to review IFAD’s support on food security and agriculture, he noted he was also to plan future direction and know the role to play.

     He said: “We have been here  since 1978, and we spent about $1.5 billion. Our portfolio is about $400 million, we invest about $110 million every three years, and we look forward to future investment.

     “IFAD is not a humanitarian agency, but we work with rural communities, smallholder farmers to improve food security and agriculture, and our projects have been doing a lot of that.

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     “We have a good project in Niger Delta, we focused on youth entrepreneurship, and in the Central belt, we have a big flagship value chain project. We are also supporting African Development Bank on Special Agriculture Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.

     “There are good impacts in the projects, there are few challenges which we discussed but I am confident that the government will be responding to that and we can deepen the impact.

     “I was to come and engage with the government to review IFAD’s support on food security and agriculture and to think about the future direction and support.

     “I think the government will be a strong partner, I think we have an opportunity to support the government on food security and aso try to look at long-term solutions’’.

     Country Director, Dede Ekoue, said the projects of  government and IFAD have strong performance around many parameters, including productivity, production, and others.

    However, she said the programmes have adopted strategies to strengthen the resilience of farmers to climate change alongside working to enhance food and nutrition security.

    Furthermore, she added that the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND and the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) have strong performances on ground.

  • Countries to support IFAD’s $2b financing effort towards global food security

    Countries to support IFAD’s $2b financing effort towards global food security

    • Netherlands makes historic US$150 million pledge for IFAD

    In the face of climate change and increased global food insecurity, member states have reaffirmed support to the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

    Specifically, last Friday at the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai, UAE, the Netherlands announced an historic pledge of US$150 million to IFAD, stressing the need to support small-scale producers who are on the frontlines of climate change and critical to future global food security.

    Djibouti, Fiji and Mauritania have also unveiled their financial pledges, with Djibouti recently making a tenfold increase, Fiji renewing its commitment, and Mauritania pledging a 50% increase, adding momentum in the campaign to replenish the UN specialized agency’s resources for the next triennium (2025-2027).

    The Netherlands’ pledge matches France’s announcement in September, becoming some of the highest single pledges made to IFAD in its 45-year history. These record-breaking commitments underscore the growing support for IFAD’s investments in agricultural development, reaching the world’s poorest rural communities.

    IFAD is calling on member states to contribute to an ambitious US$2 billion in new financing to implement rural development programmes worth US$10 billion, thanks to IFAD’s capacity to leverage additional borrowing, and to assemble development finance from other international financial institutions, governments and private investors.

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    “With the substantial increase we are witnessing in early pledges, member states are indicating that they trust IFAD to invest where it is needed the most,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD. “This means IFAD investing with governments to strengthen the most vulnerable rural people’s ability to cope with economic and climatic shocks, while generating opportunities for them to have productive and prosperous lives in the rural areas where they live,” added Lario.

    A total of 23 countries have now announced their commitments to the 13th Replenishment of IFAD’s core resources, and over 50 countries are expected to communicate their pledge at the session in Paris. Fundraising will then continue during 2024 and until the targets are met. Typically, over 100 countries contribute to IFAD’s replenishments, making it the most widely supported of all the major IFI replenishments.

    Liesje Schreinemacher, The Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, expressed the importance of supporting rural producers and pledged Netherlands support to IFAD’s goal to double its impact in improving smallholder productivity, income and resilience for over 100 million rural people.

    “Farmers in vulnerable areas are facing a crisis that they did not create. And that’s not just their problem. It’s a problem for all of us. So we must work together to bridge the finance gap,” said Dutch Minister Schreinemacher. “Organizations like IFAD play a vital role in this regard. Let us support them and continue to strive for zero hunger worldwide,” she added.

    The Netherlands has increased its contribution to IFAD by 81% compared to the previous three-year cycle. Minister Schreinemacher highlighted the Netherlands’ commitment to increasing its climate finance to more than 1.8 billion euros a year by 2025.

    Angola and France will host the final replenishment consultation session on 14-15 December in Paris. “I want to invite all countries present to participate in December for IFAD’s replenishment,” said Emmanuel Macron, President of France, at COP28. “IFAD is going to play a key role in reconciling the agricultural objective with the climate objective. And that’s an indispensable fight because we cannot ask African countries to choose between climate and agricultural production,” he added.

    IFAD launched its 13th replenishment in February 2023, calling for increased investments in small-scale farmers and rural people across developing countries. IFAD’s resources are replenished every three years by Member States.

    IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations agriculture and food hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.

  • Fed Govt, IFAD to engage 91,000 households in food production

    Fed Govt, IFAD to engage 91,000 households in food production

    No fewer than 91,000 households would be engaged by the federal government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in northern states to boost food production and climate adaptive capacity, among others.

    Country Director, IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue stated this in Abuja at the national launch  of the design mission for Value Chain in Northern Nigeria (VCN), funded by the federal government, IFAD and French Development Agency (AFD).

    Ekoue noted that the programme which is in line with the president’s agenda for agribusiness transformation would 456,000 beneficiaries an equivalent of 91,000 households in the northern states.

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

    According to her, the project’s ambition is to enhance the integration of farmers in agribusiness value chains.

    This, she said, would facilitate women and youth agric entrepreneurship , foster partnership with the private sector, modernising 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.

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

    Kyari added 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,” he said.

  • Govt, IFAD empower officials with ICT tools

    Govt, IFAD empower officials with ICT tools

    The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have trained officials in the use of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) in monitoring and evaluation of projects.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony in Abuja yesterday, the Country Director of IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue said the digital training in monitoring and evaluation is aimed at using ICT4D to scale up results for farmers.

    According to her, when ICT4D is used for a solution, IFAD will be able to not only make sure that staff use this solution to work on the project but also to have farmers use these solutions to give feedback on the project and feedback on how IFAD can improve.

     “The essence of this training is to use the power of digital solutions to improve the monitoring and evaluation of our project.

     “It is important because the federal government of Nigeria and IFAD are investing heavily in projects and these projects must yield the best result; to ensure that it yield the best result, we need to use the digital tool to track the results, to track whether these results are in line with the objectives, to ensure that these results are efficient, to learn also from these results, to continue improving the project,” she said.

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     An ICT4D Consultant, Dana Sprole said through this training, they are hoping to impact and share more knowledge about ICT and highlight the collaboration that is necessary for bringing in farmers in order for the program to be successful.

     “Through the different sessions that we are covering, the hope is that they will be able to impact the knowledge that they learn here and incorporate farmers and farmers’ perspective into the work that they are doing,” she noted.

     The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, said agriculture has to be diversified through the use of technology, as without technology, the country cannot achieve much.

    Umakhihe, who was represented by the Director Planning and Policy Coordination in the Ministry, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu said the ICT4D training is an important part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of transforming the agricultural sector.