FG seeks approval, release of $25m support for families, small farmers

Omeiza Bilal

The Federal Government has urged the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for an extension of and request for $20m additional Financing (AF) and preparation of Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) phase 2 by 12 months.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Safety, Senator Abubakar Kyari, also appealed for the release of $5m Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant to Value Chain Development Program (VCDP), Additional Financing (AF) for climate change adaptation as well as the approval of her request for two-year extension to enable the program improve on its disbursement status.

Kyari made this demand during the High-Level Mission of IFAD’s Associate Vice President, Dr. Donal Brown on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kyari said, “Nigeria is committed to IFAD’s future trajectory especially and essentially on leveraging innovation for agri-food system transformation.

“In line with this pathway, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is prepared to organize an agriculture and food security summit this year. It is designed to bring together a diverse community of organizational partners and strategic stakeholders representing the public, private and social sectors in a commitment to make this wider view of innovation and new technologies significant enabling factors for Inclusive Agri-Food System Transformation and Smallholder farmers’ empowerment.

Brown, who said it was his first visit to Nigeria, assured that IFAD is available to support the government at this point when there is food crisis in the nation.

“And for us, it’s important for two reasons. One, it is a sign of the commitment of the government to IFAD. And secondly, all the money that we raise through our replenishment cycle is money that we immediately program back into our projects in countries like Nigeria. So, the more money we raise, the more money for countries like Nigeria, thank you for that.

“We also very much welcome the new government’s pledge to clear the arrears of previous pledges. That again is a sign of the strong partnership and the commitment of this government. Not only is my mission to strengthen our relationship this week but secondly is to look at the future direction of support that IFAC can provide the government.

“IFAD can play its part in supporting that. We’re not a humanitarian agency, but much of what we do is strengthening agriculture and food security. For example, not only have you got the current problem, but we’re just approaching the planting season for the new planting season, so how can we improve that? And I noticed in things like the BCDP project which you identified, it’s had a significant impact at improving production on the ground of cassava, of other things, so I think we can play an important part supporting the government in that side of things,” he said.

He also assured that he will be discussing with the government on the ASAP grant is part of that process.