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Tag: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

  • IFAD, Fed Govt to establish digital farmers’ registry

    IFAD, Fed Govt to establish digital farmers’ registry

    International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has unveiled a Policy Dialogue Initiative to establish a National Digital Farmer Registry.

    The digital registry provides a comprehensive and accessible database of Nigerian farmers, enabling smarter policies, targeted support, and improved service delivery.

    The initiative, which is being implemented by Heifer International, is aimed at  modernising agriculture through digital transformation.

    IFAD Country Director for Nigeria, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, praised Federal Government’s leadership and commitment to innovation in agriculture.

    Ekoue noted that the registry is part of IFAD’s broader cooperation strategy with Nigeria, developed in 2024 with the Project Coordination Unit.

    The strategy, she noted, identifies digital agriculture as a catalyst for transforming Nigeria’s food systems.

    “This journey began before today, with stakeholders like NiTDA and Office of the Vice President, we’ve held extensive dialogue on ICT for Development, built technical capacity, and even facilitated an exchange visit to Kenya.

    “The creation of a unified digital registry was one of the main recommendations from the dialogue. Now, with support from Heifer International and other development partners, that recommendation is being implemented”.

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    Ekoue said the initiative was more than a technical exercise, and hailed government’s decision to integrate NIN system into the registry.

    Underscoring the importance of collaboration and data sharing, Ekoue cited early contributions to the digital registry questionnaire from the European Union (EU),Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), Tony Blair Institute (TBI), JICA, and others.

    Also, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, noted that the digital Nnational farmers’ registry is designed to address the gaps in the sector.

    “It is a transformative initiative that seeks to capture accurate, real-time, and geo-referenced data on farmers across the country, disaggregated by location, commodity, scale of production, gender, and age.

    “This registry is not just a database, it is more than a database; it is a strategic tool for promoting inclusion, transparency, and measurable impact”.

    Country Director for Heifer International in Nigeria, Dr. Lekan Tobe, detailed how a robust national digital farmer registry would support appropriate decision-making and human-centered policies, facilitate equitable distribution of agricultural solutions, improve coordination among food system actors, and enhance innovation such as precision agriculture, mechanization, and access to finance.

    He noted that while progress has been made, challenges like fragmented databases, inadequate digital infrastructure in rural areas, and low digital literacy persist.

    Dr. Tobe emphasized that the initiative aligns with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), aiming to foster a conducive policy and investment environment for the registry.

    He outlined three key objectives for the policy dialogue initiative: strengthening stakeholder capacity, developing strategic recommendations for partnership, and facilitating the launch of a multi-stakeholder platform.

  • IFAD boss mulls reduction of inequalities to drive socioeconomic growth

    IFAD boss mulls reduction of inequalities to drive socioeconomic growth

    •says smallholder farmers need $75b annually to address hunger

    As the world grapples with a perfect storm of climate change, conflicts, economic uncertainties, Alvaro Lario, President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has urged business and world leaders to “invest in rural areas to tackle poverty, hunger and inequalities as a pathway to global stability.”

    Lario spoke at the just concluded annual World Economic Forum in Davos, where he drew attention to the three billion people who live in rural areas where hunger and poverty are most entrenched and are dependent on rural economies.

    “Forced migration, food price inflation and accelerating climate change are all warning signs of a fragmented world that profoundly threatens stability and food security,” warned Lario.

     “All of these challenges can be addressed by investments in rural areas that provide decent jobs for young people, stabilise the global food supply and help small-scale producers adapt to our changing climate. I call on leaders at Davos – especially governments, private investors and innovators – to invest funding, know-how and technologies in pursuit of a more shared prosperity that will benefit us all.”

    Estimates show that economic growth in agriculture is two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than growth generated in other sectors. The rising demand for diversified food driven by a growing world population and changing consumption patterns for more diversified and sophisticated foods in developing countries opens up immense opportunities for small-scale farmers, small agri-food businesses and rural populations.

    Yet, investments in agriculture and rural development have been neglected over the years despite the returns it can bring in terms of food security, growth and stability.

    Official Development Assistance (ODA) to agricultural development has been stagnant at just 4-6 per cent of total ODA, far from answering growing needs, in particular as climate change requires urgent farmer’s adaptation. Small-scale farmers who produce one third of the world’s food currently receive only US$5 billion per year in climate finance – less than 1 percent of the global total – while their needs are broadly estimated at US$75 billion per year.

    “At IFAD, we’re leveraging partnerships with businesses, governments, and innovators to reimagine growth for the rural poor. But we must work together as no one can solve global challenges alone,” emphasised Lario.

     “We must harness the intelligent age to ensure emergent technologies are accessible to all, especially the world’s poorest. Letting them fall even further behind risks global development and increases the risk of hunger and conflict everywhere.”

    IFAD is developing solutions to attract private sector investments and engagement in rural development and agriculture. For example, it is the first UN specialised agency, except for the World Bank, to receive a credit rating and issue sustainable bonds. Since, IFAD raised more than US$720 million from global pension funds or life insurers to benefit the world’s poorest.

    IFAD is also looking at ways to bring digital technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), e-wallets, drone, or blockchain through properly tailored services and tools to small-scale farmers and rural populations. For example, through the Moonshots for Development initiative, IFAD is supporting a small start-up in Kenya which provides vital AI services to alert farmers of an infestation and provide advice to address.

    Nearly 700 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty with less than US$2.15 per person per day and three quarters of the world’s poorest live in the rural areas of developing countries today. Food inflation has become a pressing issue for most developing countries. About 735 million people suffer from hunger and more than 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. About 1.7 billion people – 20 percent of the global population – still live in high-inequality economies.

  • IFAD insures 26,400 farmers in Niger

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Program Director in Niger state, Dr. Mathew Ahmed has disclosed that the Agency has insured 26,400 farmers in the last four years.

    The Director disclosed this at the presentation of cheque to some rice farmers affected by flood in Katcha local government area in Niger state.

    He said that the reason for insuring the farmers was to help them to be able to recoup their loss during disasters.

    Giving a breakdown of the farmers insured, he said 4,800 farmers were insured in 2015, 7,000 in 2016, 9,000 in 2017 and 5,600 farmers in 2018 adding that the Agency does not intend to insure any farmer in 2019 as they are being encouraged to insure themselves.

    Ahmed said the farmers who benefitted from the Insurance cover are benefiting because they reported the disaster within 48 hours after it occurred.

    “Most of the farmers in Niger state could not benefit because they did not report to NAIC on time despite we insured them. The criteria to get the insurance cover are to report to NAIC within 24 to 48 hours to enable the corporation visit the farm and access the damage.”

    He disclosed that N910,000 is being disbursed with the farmers getting from N25,000 to N58,000 saying the sum will help them in the 2019 farming season.

    Ahmed then urged farmers to insure their crops to enable them to be compensated whenever there is disaster of any kind.

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    “We are not praying for disasters but we know they come. The farmers need to come to the realization that the government is not lying about the insurance cover. This presentation is a practical example that government keeps its promise.”

    The General Manager of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) in Minna, John Adamu said the money may not be large enough to adequately compensate them for their loss but it will enable them to be able to begin the 2019 farming season.

    He stated that the 35 farmers were benefiting because they insured their crops and reported the flood incident within 48 hours after the disaster occurred.

    “When the flood occurred, these farmers informed us and we were in the field within 48 hours to access the damage and majority of the loss.”

    Adamu then lauded the IFAD Value Chain Development Programme in Niger state for insuring farmers under its programme in 2018 adding that the agency made their work easy as they were able to identify with genuine farmers to be compensated.

    The representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Niger state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhassan Umar urged the farmers to use the funds profitably for the next farming season.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Baiwa appreciated the government for the money given to them saying it will help them cushion the effect of the loss.

    “The loss was painful but this has lifted our hope. Although it is not up to what we lost but it will help us go back to the farm and start something.

    “It is now I believe the benefit of insurance. I am ready to pay the premium for myself if IFAD stops paying for us and I will encourage other farmers to also do same.”

  • Succour for Katsina rural communities

    Working in concert with the Federal Government, two international agencies, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) have opened up rural communities in Katsina State through road rehabilitation, reports AUGUSTINE OKEZIE

    Abdullahi Surajo, the Public Relations Officer of the Katsina State office of International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD and Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP), described the activities of the two international agencies in the state as massive and people-oriented.

    He further disclosed that under the CASP programme, a total of additional 375km earthen roads would be rehabilitated while 243kms of new rural roads would be constructed, a project expected to benefit several people in the state.

    The feeder roads and other rural development projects involved the rehabilitation of 22 rural roads with support structures such as drainages, culverts, rails and drifts covering a distance of 59.09km across the participating states in the Northwest

    According to the PRO, the rural development intervention involves the opening up of access roads in rural communities to evacuate farm products from the rural areas to the urban centres as well as the construction of embankment of water prone areas to make them passable.

    He listed the rural feeder roads undertaken by the two agencies in the state to include: The 25kmMakasaro/Tambu Village Road, the 4.5km Kurunkus/Yangora Road in Bindawa Local Government Area, the 21km Maraban Kanya access road in Kafur Local Government Area, and the 2.5km wagini- Kasai Road in Batsari Local Government Area

    Also, while flagging off the construction of the feeder roads in Makasauro village in Katsina State late last year, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the project will cover the erosion prone, farm connected market roads and rehabilitation of degraded rangeland, cutting across states in the Savannah Belt .

    He said, ”The benefiting communities of the project being implemented under the IFAD-CASP) are spread across the 7 States of the country namely: Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states’’.

    An elated Chief Ogbeh further declared that the Federal Government is deliberately giving impetus to rural development because of the critical role that rural infrastructures play in unlocking of the vast and enormous potentials of the rural areas.

    He said, “What we are witnessing is part of a series of rural infrastructure build-up across the country under the present administration. Rural development such as this one is critical to the productivity of the rural people.”

    The feeder road projects also involved the maintenance supports activities anchored through the establishment of a road maintenance group headed by the Chairman, Community Development Association selected by the communities themselves, designed to extend the life span of such roads. The road maintenance group was also expected to assist in simple repairs such as filling of potholes, cleaning of drainages and other small repairs.”

    Beside the rural feeder roads projects, other interventions that shot up the living standards of the rural communities include the provision of 997 solar-powered boreholes; apart from water harvesting, soil and water conservation infrastructure and the establishment of 3,000ha of community woodlots, shelter belt and a forestation meant to stem the fast depleting vegetation in the participating states and touch the lives of about 30,000 vulnerable women and men.

    The state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari while commending the efforts of the Federal Government on agriculture also recalled that farmers in the state who have keyed into the Rice Revolution of the government are doing well to the extent that more than 80! of those who performed this year’s Hajj are self-sponsored farmers unlike before.

    Not a few stakeholders in the state particularly the direct beneficiaries from the rural communities agree that apart from opening up the areas and integrating them into the fray of modern development and infrastructure. It has also contributed in reducing rural poverty, increase food security, accelerate sustainable economic growth and reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers, including youth and women.

    The Federal Government by providing critical rural infrastructure through these agencies has also contributed in creating the enabling environment for the rejuvenation of the rural economy.

    Ogbeh added that under the CASP programme, a total of additional 375 kms. earthen roads would be rehabilitated and 243 kms. of new rural roads would be constructed.

    According to him, the project will benefit 7,000 people across the participating states.

    He said his ministry was intervening in the provision of 997 solar-powered boreholes which would benefit 5,000 people across the benefiting communities.

    He added that a total of 4,000 hectares of range lands would be developed to cater for the pastoral requirements of 3,000 herdsmen, adding that the project would commence with a pilot of 50 hectares per state.

    He said that in Daura Local Government Area, 600 hectares of land in Madobi and Turumni villages had been earmarked for the commencement of the pilot programme, stressing that holistic land management would be taught and practiced.

    He added that the Federal Government would establish 3,000 hectares of community woodlot, shelter-belts and ensure the afforestation of the fast depleting vegetation across the participating states.

    Ogbeh said that an estimated 3,000 vulnerable men and women would benefit from the programme.

    “We were collaborating with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall across 18 communities.”

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    According to  the National Programme Coordinator of CASP, Alhaji Lawal Idah the IFAD/CASP programme which was aimed at reducing rural poverty, increase food security and economic growth on a sustainable basis, had received wider acceptability among rural dwellers, traditional rulers and community leaders.

    He added that the programme comprised four components of productivity enhancement and climate change resilience, enterprise development for youth and women, instructional development and management and coordination.

    He said ‘’IFAD/ CASP was supporting the production of cash crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, rice, cowpea and groundnut, each of the participating states produces a variety of crops’’.

    Idah further maintained that the programme was being implemented at the community level with the facilitation of federal, state and local governments, while the community driven development (CDD) implementation model produces the fourth tier which is the Community Development Associations (CDAs).

    Salisu Zubairu, 40, Chairman Makasura Community Development Association while commending the Federal Government f or the road project in his area which according to him in now passable and without flooding of the roads, especially during raining season with the compliments of side drainages and culverts

    He said ’’we in the remote villages with a high population of rural farmers appreciate Government, IFAD and CASP for the various interventionist project as and the feeder roads’’

    Harisu Isa, 64, and The Chairman Development Association Chairman in Kurunkus /Yangora village in Bindawa LGA., expresses delight in seeing an access road in his village during his life time

    He said, “We have been having problems taking our farm products to the markets in the urban areas, sometimes we use donkeys and other animals through bush parts but now we can use vehicles and motorcycles easily. even when we are sick or want to take our pregnant women to the hospitals it has always been difficult before.”

    Yusuf Muhammadu, a 40-year-old commercial cyclist in Wagini-Kasai village in Batsari Local Government Area, could not conceal his happiness in the rural feeder road being constructed in his area. He said that previously passengers preferred trekking the bumpy track roads to boarding his motorcycle but now patronage has increased

    The rural communities in Katsina which are increasingly being connected by roads and other infrastructures would certainly remain grateful to both the federal and state governments as well as IFAD/CASP for the definite changes in social living standards they are experiencing.

  • IFAD task rural community development groups on productivity

    IFAD task rural community development groups on productivity

    The International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Saturday urged Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Sokoto State to ensure maximum commitment toward improving productivity in agriculture.

    The IFAD Country Programme Manager, Mr Ben Odoemena, made the call during an interactive session with the groups.

    Odoemena, in a statement by Malam Hayatu Dallhatu, IFAD Knowledge Management and Communications Officer, said that the interactive session was aimed at facilitating the CDAs access to obtain more benefits from agriculture in the state.

    He said that the interaction was held with CDA members from the 17 benefiting intervention local government areas in the state, as they are “always the root of all IFAD programmes’’.

    “Our visit is to ascertain if these groups are ready to receive support to continue with their agriculture activities.

    “We are here also to clarify on the commitment of IFAD on Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP), where attention will mainly focus on commodity value chain.

    “Moreover, the CASP which is in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, will give farmers the opportunity to earn more in the business of agriculture,” Odoemena said.

    The country manager, however, expressed  commitment to continuous training of more youths on various entrepreneurial skills to enable them to become self-reliant.

    Also, Mr Marc Sousa, an Agriculture Development Specialist, said that the team was in Sokoto to share ideas and learn from one another on how to successfully implement the  programme.

    In his remarks, the State Programme Officer, Alhaji Aminu Dogon-Daji, commended that the National Headquarters of IFAD for its efforts in ensuring the success of Agri-business in the state.

  • NiMet, IFAD sign MoU on climate change to boost food production

    NiMet, IFAD sign MoU on climate change to boost food production

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Fund for Agricultural Development  ( IFAD ) on Climate Change Adaptation and Agri-Business Support Programme, IFAD-CASP.

    A statement by Mr Muntari Ibrahim, General Manager, Public Relations Unit, on Monday in Abuja, said the MoU had a renewable life span of four years.

    The statement noted that Prof. Sani Mashi, Director-General, NiMet, said the MoU was aimed at improving yields, mitigating the vagaries associated with climate change, and reducing the risk of crop failure.

    “The key components of the MoU include prediction of rainfall establishment, rainfall variability, dry spells and length of raining season for sustainable agriculture

    “Another component, is the installation of NiMet applications to CASP smart phones for real-time climate and weather information in the designated programme areas,’’ the statement said.

    Mashi added that the MoU would also cover the development of crop calendars in line with the value chain crops adopted by the selected communities.

    “It also included training of Extension Workers, Climate Change Officers and Community development associations in the analysis and interpretation of the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) in selected CASP states.

    “The programmes of IFAD are in tandem with NiMet’s core mandate, which are geared toward poverty reduction, increase in food security and accelerated economic growth on a sustainable basis,” Mashi said.

    Mashi said that the collaboration was designed to improve crop yields and farming systems through adaptation to climate change in core northern savannah states adjudged to be most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

    He listed the states as Katsina, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa.

    “These states are to benefit from the IFAD/NiMet symbiotic relationship, which will reduce the losses incurred by farmers in the states over the years as a result of climate change and weather uncertainties.”

    The National Programme Coordinator, CASP, Muhammad Idah, said the synergy between the two organisations across the aforementioned Northern states would be downscaled to cover 104 local government areas and 727 villages.

    Idah said the synergy would enable the agencies to provide climate change adaptation and resilience information to the farmers to manage and coordinate their farming practice.

    The programme, according to him, was aimed at promoting climate smart agricultural production.

    He commended NiMet for the recent training of CASP field climate change officers and extension agents.

    According to him, the officers can confidently predict rainfall through the help of the rain gauges presented to them by NiMet.

    “An action plan is to be developed to periodically assess the level of impact of the collaboration on farmers of the targeted seven Northern states,” he said.

    NAN

  • IFAD to engage Sokoto farmers in cultivation

    IFAD to engage Sokoto farmers in cultivation

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD ) on Thursday restated commitment to engage more farmers in Millet cultivation in Sokoto state.

    Dr Aminu Aliyu, the state programme coordinator made the pledge during farmers display on millet produce in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state.

    Aliyu, represented by the state programme Engineering Officer, Malam Yahaya Gangara, said that the programme was aimed at show casing the potentials of farming activities, particularly in the areas of millet production.

    “It was also to exchange ideas among various farmers in Tangaza Local Government Area.

    “This is in order to complement one another and exchange ideas to ensure a bumper harvest of millet produce in the state and to enhance food security in the country.

    “As such, IFAD will continue to engage more farmers in its Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme ( CASP ) to ensure the procurement of seeds that can yield a better harvest.

    “Our mission is to ensure the selected farmers become the seasonal Ambassadors of IFAD to mobilise others to participate fully in the next season of millet farming,” he said.

    Aliyu explained that IFAD had since engaged Agricultural industries to purchase all farm produce from the farmers in order to ease their transaction after harvest.

    He called on farmers to judiciouly utilised the farming techniques learnt from The International Fund for Agricultural Development in order to ensure a better harvest across the country.

    Earlier, the local government Chairman, Alhaji Nura Dalhatu commended IFAD desire for supporting farmers and farming activities in the state.

    Dalhatu assured farmers that the local government will continue to procure seed for distribution to various farmers across all villages in the council.

    He maintained that the local government will ensure that all farmers in the area benefitted from the gesture to boost food security in the communities.

  • IFAD injects N4bn into Ebonyi economy in 2016

    IFAD injects N4bn into Ebonyi economy in 2016

    The said it injected N4 billion into the economy of Ebonyi in 2016 to support farmers.

    Mr Sunday Ituma, the State Programme Coordinator, disclosed this on Saturday in Abakaliki while speaking on the recent distribution of farm inputs to farmers by the programme.

    “IFAD’s intervention added over 2,500 metric tonnes of rice paddy to the rice production output of the state and supported 6, 245 farmers during the same period.

    “We also piloted dry season farming in 2016 with the establishment of 32 hectare demonstration farms and accompanying impressive yields averaging 4.2 tonnes per hectare,” he said.

    Ituma said that IFAD’s target was to support 10,000 farmers in 2017 as it has presently verified and approved 455 business plans with 7,478 farmers expected to cultivate 8,252 hectares.

    “The cost of matching fund expected for this intervention is over N1 billion for which IFAD will contribute 50 per cent or over N500 million while the farmers are to provide the balance.

    “This investment will add about 40, 000 metric tonnes of rice paddy to the rice output of Ebonyi and will translate to the generation of N6.4 billion in the state’s economy,’’ he explained.

    He noted that the programme also funded the development of 200 hectares of farm lands at Ezillo, Ishiellu Local Government Area of the state and provided modern farm machinery to farmers for enhanced productivity.

    “The machinery include: tractors, power tillers, among others, as we also provided support to extension services through the provision of motorcycles to extension agents.

    “We also released funds to the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and facilitated the profiling/training of farmers for the Anchor Borrowers Programme,” he said.

    Ituma explained that under the Agricultural Market Development Component, IFAD intervened in the provision of rural roads, market stalls, aggregation centres, solar powered boreholes and construction of rice processing centres for which massive resources were deployed.

    “Our input distribution system is technologically driven by Cellulant Nigeria Ltd which provides the electronic wallet platform while International Fertiliser Development Centre is the supply chain managers.

    “Their involvement in the distribution system is to ensure transparency and distribution of quality inputs to farmers,” he said.

  • Sokoto creates 27,000 jobs in agric sector, says Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it has created no fewer than 27,166 jobs in the agricultural sector in the last two years.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said this on Wednesday in Sokoto at the opening of a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Agri-business Support, organised in collaboration with the State Office of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

    “In the period under consideration, we have supported more than 33,000 people, through the promotion of improved crop production techniques, para-veterinary clinics as well as women and youth off-farm activities.

    “Similarly, we have created, through our community-based agric and rural development initiatives, 27,166 jobs via different interventions in sustainable agriculture, community infrastructure, rural enterprise development, among others,’’ he said.

    The governor said that his administration was fully committed to the development of agriculture, with a view to enhancing food security, eradicating poverty and boosting employment opportunities, especially among the youth.

    “The state government will continue to honour and fulfil all financial obligations entered into with IFAD and other donor agencies, so that the people of the state can continue to enjoy its maximum benefit,’’ Tambuwal said.

    In his goodwill message, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by the North West Regional Director, Mr Adeyemi Ayoyeyi, said that the Federal Government was determined to develop the agricultural sector.

    “The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, was resolute in its vision of promoting agricultural production in Nigeria.

    “The Federal Government was implementing programmes aimed at attracting the youth to agricultural practices across the value chain.

    “The ministry, in collaboration with IFAD and other partners, has developed and implemented the climate change adaptation and agri-business support programme.

    “This is to fast-track climate change mitigation and stimulate smart agriculture in the country,’’ Ogbeh said.

  • NGO secures N10 bn loan for young farmers from FCMB

    United Young Farmers Forum (UYFF) has secured a loan of N10 billion from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to empower 10,000 young farmers in the country.

    President of the association, Mr Orimadegun Wilson, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that a pilot phase of the scheme with farmers fron the from the North West and North East geo politicaal zones during this farming season..

    Wilson, who said the loan was derived from FCMB, said the pilot phase was started from the two regions because theof the enthusiasm shown by the prospective participants in the region.

    He added that 75 per cent of the loan guarantee would be covered by Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), while 25 per cent of the risk would be borne by UYFF.

    According to him, beneficiaries are expected to deposit one per cent of whatever was collected to NIRSAL to serve as collateral, adding that the repayment period was one year from the time the beneficiary’s crops mature.

    He also said that the organisation will make a presentation on Bio Organic fertilizer at a joint Federal Government of Nigeria and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) mission from May 1 to May 12.

    He said that the presentation, which would hold in Katsina, was in line with the Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP).

    “UYFF, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) is a coalition of young farmers in Nigeria, focused on building the capacity of young people interested in agribusiness.

    “We believe agribusiness is the future for Nigeria, our vision is to create a new generation of farmers who will create wealth, jobs and ensure food and nutrition security in Nigeria.’’

    Wilson also said that the organisation was in partnership with other organisations to build the capacity of the youth in Nigeria.