AUDA-NEPAD embarks on $2bn smallholder farmers empowerment project

African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria, has flagged off a 2billion dollar project to strengthen SmallHolder farmers, from 22 pilot states across the six geo-political zones of the country. 


The National Coordinator AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, disclosed thiswhen fielding questions from Journalist in Abuja at the 2-Day Summit/technical round table titled “innovative strengthening of smallholder farmers capabilities towards productive land restoration amid covid-19 in Nigeria.”


Akobundu explained that Nigeria spends up to 6billion yearly on importation, stressing that the project was actually geared towards encouraging local businesses in farming so as to curb unemployment at the grassroots.


According to her, the project which will be implemented in phases at the state and local government levels involving 22 pilot states, is in it’s bid to promote food sufficiency and zero hunger, and mitigate the effects of Covid19 pandemic in Nigeria.


She said, “This is a ten year plan for food sufficiency and zero hunger in Nigeria, in our continent and ECOWAS region. We are addressing hunger with bottom-to-top approach involving local farmers, the farmers association, state and local governments, the clergy and traditional rulers across 22 pilot states ensure that grassroots poverty is eradicated, Covid19 effects is mitigated and gainful employment of women and youths.


“President Mohammadu Buhari declared in his nine point agenda that one of his priorities is to see youths gainfully employed and become resourceful. He assured of taking 1 million Nigerians out of poverty and this is one of the strategic moves to achieve that agenda.


“Nigeria import statistics is up to 6billion yearly and we cannot mitigate this without approaching rural farmers and strengthening them to produce more. We do not have much companies that are I to farming so addressing small farmers will grow our GDP, create employment, mitigate effects of covid and lack of job in rural areas as well as enable exporting of our products,” she added.


The Head of Focal Security Unit and Manager of AFRADO Secretariat AUDA-NEPAD continental, Mamadou Diakhite, said the programme was being implemented under the continental initiative called Africa Forest and Landscape Restoration Initiative signed by Nigeria and 20 other African countries, with the aim to restore 100million nectar of degrading land and forest by 2030.


“It’s a partnership that helps to bring soil into fertility,” he said.

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