More than two million smallholder Nigerian farmers have gained access to $40.8 million in credit facilities through a USAID-funded agricultural extension project over the past three years, officials announced on Monday.
The Innovative Market-led Extension Delivery project has connected 2.021 million farmers with new information, technologies, and services across seven states: Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger, according to the Project Director at Winrock International, USAID, Jean-Pierre Rousseau.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of Wednesday’s national impact summit in Abuja, Rousseau emphasised the project’s success in improving access to agricultural technologies and financial services through partnerships with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The Chief of Party for USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity in Nigeria, Dr. Ben Odoemena, revealed that the project has identified 39 “most impactful practices” (MIPs) as key extension innovation messages and business solutions. These practices aim to enhance smallholder farmers’ capabilities through MSME outreach.
“A total of 1,088 gainful jobs were created by the MSMEs, mainly youths, to cope with increasing demand for agricultural inputs and extension by the expanding number of farmers in their business networks,” Odoemena said.
Notably, approximately 70% of the improved agricultural practices introduced are climate-smart, designed to help farmers adapt to and build resilience against climate change.
The upcoming national impact summit will showcase the project’s achievements to key stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria, to promote the adoption and sustainability of these practices across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Featured image: WeeTracker
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