Empowering smallholder farmers in Nigeria is a key focus of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). Ms. Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer, announced that seven states will benefit from the initial phase of this initiative. She made this announcement during a stakeholders’ engagement on the integration of the African Union Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme in Abuja, also monitored in Kano.
The states identified for support include Nasarawa, Cross River, Imo, Abia, Kano, and Kebbi. The primary objective of this initiative is to tackle food supply challenges and enhance local agricultural production in Nigeria.
This initiative falls within AUDA-NEPAD’s mandate under Agenda 2063 to provide member states with resources and technical assistance. Akobundu emphasized the urgent need for strong collaboration and mobilization of resources to advance agricultural and environmental objectives in Africa.
She stressed the importance of partnerships in implementing strategies under the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), particularly in scaling up land restoration and ecosystem management.
Collaboration between government bodies and local stakeholders is essential for the effective implementation of these initiatives. Akobundu urged participants to sustain their commitment, highlighting the requirement for financial and operational support from state and local governments.
Benjamin Uche, Programme Officer for Climate Resilience at AUDA-NEPAD Continental, South Africa, mentioned that the project, initiated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to empower smallholder farmers to combat climate change, food insecurity, and unemployment.
Funding will be allocated to the seven identified states to address food supply challenges and boost the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Plans are in place to expand the project to more states as additional co-financing becomes available.
During the workshop themed “Accelerating the Implementation of CAADP and Scaling Up Land Restoration and Ecosystem,” stakeholders discussed the vital role each plays in mobilizing resources and building resilient partnerships for sustainable development nationwide.