African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has announced that seven states in Nigeria will benefit from the first phase of its smallholder farmers initiative.
Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AUDA-NEPAD announced during a stakeholders’ engagement on the Mainstreaming of the African Union Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) held in Abuja.
Akobundu revealed that the states set to benefit from the initiative are Nasarawa, Cross River, Imo, Abia, Kano, and Kebbi.
She added that the initiative aimed to tackle food supply challenges and enhance local agricultural production across the country.
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The initiative was part of AUDA-NEPAD’s broader mandate under Agenda 2063 to support member states through resource mobilization and technical assistance.
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Akobundu stressed the importance of sustained partnerships in implementing CAADP’s strategies, particularly in scaling up land restoration and ecosystem management.
Benjamin Uche, the program officer for Climate Resilience and Project Focal Point at AUDA-NEPAD Continental, South Africa, explained that the project focuses on strengthening smallholder farmers to combat the effects of climate change, food insecurity, and unemployment.
Uche stated that the funding will be distributed across the seven benefiting states to address food supply challenges and boost the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Munira Abdullahi, the commissioner for finance, budget, and planning in Nasarawa, disclosed the progress in the state’s agricultural sector, recalling initiatives that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AUDA-NEPAD’s CEO commended the commitment to Abdullahi in sustainable agricultural practices, revealing the cultivation of 10,000 hectares, with 5,000 already prepared for harvest.
