The African Development Bank (AfDB) has given a hefty loan of $134 million to strengthen Nigeria’s agriculture industry.
The funds will be used to support the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project.
Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, announced this unprecedented program in Jigawa State, emphasizing the loan’s purpose: to encourage farmers across the country to plant critical commodities such as rice, maise, cassava, and wheat.
Kyari emphasized the loan’s projected impact, claiming that it may raise crop yield by at least 20% over prior years.
During the wet season, he says the idea will expand to cover high-value staples like soybeans and sorghum.
His words:
“We do not expect a bed of roses; we know that our path will be riddled with challenges. Indeed, there have been quite a few already. But we are poised to take them on.
“We have been innovative in utilising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to: target already proven irrigated farm clusters; deploy verified farmer data; and map the farmers to AgroDealer Redemption Centres. Thankfully, we have already gained grounds.”
Acknowledging the anticipated challenges ahead, Kyari underscored the innovative utilisation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to streamline operations.
In response, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa expressed gratitude to the federal government for selecting Jigawa for the project, noting that it will positively impact the lives of over 42,000 farmers in the region.
He urged farmers to adopt best practices for a bountiful harvest.