Agriculture - News Agency Of Nigeria

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Tue, 2025

Mercy Corps empowers 9,383 ginger farmers in Kaduna

By Felicia Imohimi

Mercy Corps says it has empowered 9,383 ginger farmers in Kaduna State through its Empowering Resilient Ginger Farmers (ERGF) project, aimed at boosting productivity and improving livelihoods.

Mr Ismail Rilwan, Programme Manager, Mercy Corps, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the closeout meeting of the project with LAPO Microfinance Bank.

He said the project, supported by donor TAZO, began in March 2023 and will run until August 2025 across four local government areas of Southern Kaduna.

They are; Kachia, Jaba, Sanga and Jemaa, known as the “ginger triangle”.

Rilwan noted that Nigeria is the world’s second-largest producer of ginger, with Kaduna contributing about 90 per cent of national output.

“Despite this advantage, farmers face recurring crop diseases, high input costs and limited access to finance.

“The ERGF project was initiated to address these gaps, increase yields and promote financial stability,” he said.

He explained that the project was designed to support smallholder farmers, especially women, to overcome long-standing challenges in ginger cultivation.

According to him, the programme seeks to empower at least 51 per cent female farmers by raising productivity and income, while building resilience to agricultural and economic shocks.

He said the two main objectives were to boost production through improved seed systems and sustainable practices, and to enhance financial inclusion through training and access to credit facilities.

Rilwan identified weak seed systems, labour-intensive processes, recurring diseases and poor access to finance as major constraints confronting ginger farmers.

He said Mercy Corps was working with several partners, including the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency, and Kaduna State University.

Others were Octavio Development Company, Co-Funds, LAPO Microfinance Bank, Bank of Agriculture, Salama Radio, Rockside FM, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Incorporated International Development.

“Already, yields have improved from the average 5–12 tons per hectare to approach the 38 tons per hectare potential under optimal conditions,” he said.

He added that farmers had gained better access to loans, while women were increasingly participating in agribusiness and decision-making within their communities.

On lessons from the 2023 ginger disease outbreak, which caused an estimated N10 billion loss, Rilwan said: “There were early signs and symptoms, but they went unnoticed”.

“Going forward, we must strengthen extension services and establish an early warning system to detect and contain such outbreaks before they spread”.

Also speaking, Mr John Ogbebor, Agriculture Business Manager, LAPO Microfinance Bank, said lack of access to credit remained a major barrier for Nigerian farmers.

“Many farmers face bottlenecks such as tedious processes, high interest rates and long delays. Some wait for months, and in extreme cases, even years before loans are disbursed,” Ogbebor said.

He said his bank, in partnership with Mercy Corps, had disbursed N48 million to 305 farmers in Kaduna State, including 170 women.

According to him, the loans covered farm inputs, labour and other value chain expenses, with flexible repayment terms tied to the ginger harvest cycle.

“The farmers were given a grace period until harvest before repayment, and loan terms were adjusted to match the gestational period of ginger,” he said.

He stressed that sustainability and inclusion were key to achieving long-term impact.

“Inclusion is about bringing more people into the value chain and the financing sector, including women and cooperatives. That is how we build resilience and shared prosperity,” he added.

NAN reports that Mercy Corps operates in more than 20 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Portland, United States.

In Nigeria, its thematic areas include Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Food Security and Livelihoods; Economic Opportunity; and Peace and Good Governance.

Highlight of the meeting was a panel discussion on Financial Inclusion and Resilience: Driving Shared Prosperity in Nigeria. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

ActionAid urges community ownership of school feeding programme

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Mon, 2025

Agriculture

ActionAid urges community ownership of school feeding programme

By Felicia Imohimi

ActionAid Nigeria has urged stakeholders to strengthen community ownership of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) through local sourcing.

It said the focus should be on women and farmers to ensure sustainability.

The Country Director, Mr Andrew Mamedu, made the call on Friday in Abuja at the organisation’s National Policy Forum.

The forum had as its theme: “Institutionalisation and Implementation of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme for Sustainable Economic Growth and Financial Inclusion in Nigeria”.

Mamedu said the programme was not only a nutrition intervention, but also an education strategy that keeps children in school and improves learning outcomes.

He called it an economic strategy that stimulates local farming and food markets, as well as a social protection tool that reduces hunger and inequality.

He added that it also served as a human capital development initiative with guaranteed returns on investment, and ultimately a nation-building strategy for inclusion, stability and sustainable development.

According to him, if institutionalised, the programme would improve nutrition and learning, create jobs, enhance financial inclusion and build resilience for future generations.

“In the immediate past administration, the home-grown school feeding programme recorded remarkable gains.

“It increased school enrolment by 28 per cent and improved pupil retention by over 50 per cent in many states.

“Nationwide, about seven million children across 40,000 public schools benefited from daily nutritious meals, while tens of thousands of cooks and smallholder farmers were engaged in the supply chain.

“These outcomes clearly demonstrate the power of school feeding to draw children into classrooms and link education with economic opportunities,” he said.

Mamedu urged federal, state and local governments to think beyond short-term interventions and commit to building a school feeding system that is inclusive, sustainable and transformative.

He also called for sustained financing through statutory contributions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, the Universal Basic Education Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and other sources, alongside stronger partnerships.

The ActionAid boss noted that enrolment in basic education increased from 35 million to 40 million between 2018 and 2022.

However, he said the number of out-of-school children also rose from 9.1 million in 2000 to 14.6 million in 2020.

He decried that Nigeria’s score of 0.36 on the World Bank Human Capital Index meant that a child born today would achieve only 36 per cent of their productive potential if nothing changes.

“At present, over 45 million children cannot read a simple text at age 10, while about 15 million are completely out of school.

“This crisis is not due to lack of effort, but weak governance, underfunding and systemic gaps,” he said.

Mamedu reaffirmed ActionAid’s support for the Federal Government’s vision of the school feeding programme, calling it a proven pathway to address education and nutrition gaps.

He said the forum aimed at presenting findings of a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) conducted by ActionAid, which identified systemic gaps and offered policy pathways for resilient, locally sourced and community-led school feeding systems.

The forum brought together government leaders, policymakers, civil society, development partners and others to build consensus, foster political will and set up a Multi-Stakeholder Technical Working Group.

It is to drive the institutionalisation of the programme nationwide. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Agri-expo to boost Nigeria’s business potential– Coordinator

Ismail Abdulaziz
Aug, Thu, 2025

Agriculture

Agri-expo to boost Nigeria’s business potential– Coordinator

By Angela Atabo

Mr Abiodun Olaniyi, Project Coordinator of the Nigeria International Agriculture Expo (NIAEXPO 2025), says the upcoming expo will enhance Nigeria’s agribusiness potential and reinforce its standing in the global agricultural market.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the 7th edition of the event, Olaniyi said the expo, themed “Showcasing Nigeria’s Agricultural Potential on a Global Stage,” would serve as a marketplace for innovation.

He added that it would also promote trade and investment in the agricultural sector.

He noted that the event would project Nigeria as a leading agribusiness hub in Africa.

He explained that NIAEXPO 2025 would focus on promoting local innovations, empowering women in agribusiness, and connecting farmers to international markets, with the goal of contributing to global food security and sustainable agriculture.

“The expo will also address critical issues such as post-harvest losses, poor access to finance, and inefficiencies in logistics and supply chains.

“Countries that participated in previous editions include Russia, India, the U.S., Estonia, and China.

“For 2025, we’ll have representatives from Nigeria’s geopolitical zones and other African countries.

“The expo will build capacity on topics like agro-logistics, digital agriculture, and women’s participation in agribusiness,” Olaniyi said.

He added that crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and moringa would be spotlighted for their underutilised potential.

According to him, a forum on organic and agroecology education will also be held.

Olaniyi emphasised that crops such as cashew, cocoa, sugarcane, and mushrooms offered huge economic opportunities, but required better policies and stakeholder synergy to fully harness their value.

Also speaking, Mr Adekunle Adamson, Regional Project Lead for NIAEXPO, said the 2025 edition would feature Farmers’ Day and a Women Entrepreneurship Hub to promote inclusivity.

“Farmers’ Day is designed to celebrate and empower farmers through training and exposure to new techniques.

“We’re also spotlighting women and youth in agribusiness, offering support from product registration to packaging and marketing.

“The Women Entrepreneurship Hub will provide a platform for aspiring and established female agripreneurs to gain practical knowledge, improve product visibility, and scale their businesses,” Adamson said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Abiemwense Moru

Nigeria needs 25,000 refrigerated trucks to bridge cold-chain gaps

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Aug, Thu, 2025

Agriculture

Nigeria needs 25,000 refrigerated trucks to bridge cold-chain gaps

By Mercy Omoike

The Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) says Nigeria needs at least 25,000 refrigerated trucks to bridge its cold chain sector gaps.

The President of OTACCWA, Mr Alexander Isong, disclosed this in his keynote address at the Cold Chain Roundtable on Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, in Lagos.

The roundtable was in partnership with OTACCWA and other stakeholders in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Danish Consulate is pushing for more finance and investment in the cold-chain sector in Nigeria.

According to Isong, the post-harvest losses in Nigeria can be reduced to the barest minimum with the availability of a minimum of 25,000 cold trucks.

“Nigeria loses over 40 per cent of its food production to spoilage every year. That is more than 20 million metric tonnes of food—gone. The economic cost? A staggering N3.5 trillion annually.

“And yet, our cold chain sector, valued at just ₦160 billion, operates at less than four per cent of its required capacity.

“This is not just a logistical failure; it is a humanitarian crisis. It is a climate vulnerability, and it is a missed opportunity.

“Across our markets, farmers and traders watch helplessly as tomatoes begin to rot within 48 hours of harvest, fish spoils on the boat before it reaches the coast or gets sold, and vaccines lose potency enroute from large storage or foreign cold chain storage to rural clinics.

“Nigeria has fewer than 1,000 refrigerated trucks. We need 25,000 cold trucks to get the country to a manageable level of cold chain efficiency,” Isong said.

According to him, Nigeria’s cold storage facilities are next to zero. We need 100 large cold rooms—each with 500-tonne capacity—just to begin reversing post-harvest losses.

“The gaps are just as glaring. We lose an estimated $9billion annually to poor cold chain logistics in agriculture and pharmaceuticals combined.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw first-hand how fragile our vaccine distribution systems are. There is a facility capable of storing 20million doses—but that is a drop in the ocean compared to our national needs.

“Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and energy instability are compounding the cold-chain crisis. Solar-powered solutions offer promise, but they are vulnerable to equipment degradation and inconsistent sunlight.

“We must design systems that are not just energy-efficient, but climate-resilient,” Isong said.

He also reiterated the importance of increasing finance and investment in the Nigerian cold chain sector.

“This means investing in modular cold centres, mobile refrigerated units, and smart technologies—Internet of Thing sensors, Artificial Intelligence routing, and blockchain traceability.

“It means building infrastructure that can withstand the shocks of tomorrow while serving the needs of today.

“The potential is enormous. Cold-chain access boosts small business profits by an average of 23.47 per cent.

“Reducing post-harvest losses could recover ₦3.5trillion annually and improved vaccine logistics will save lives, reduce disease burden, and strengthen our health systems,” he said.

Also at the roundtable, Ms Victoria Epelle, Trade Advisor at the Danish Consulate, said partnerships with stakeholders in the cold chain sector is necessary to push for its development.

“The reason we partnered with APM terminal, OTACCWA and other stakeholders, in organising this programme was simply because we decided that they would be the best stakeholders to bring the people within the cold-chain value chain together.

“This will help move the sector forward, and this can be done through dialogue and awareness.

“So, internally within the Danish consulate, we have a cold chain focus, and part of it is awareness and networking. So, having this event was part of the main activities of the project.

“We are making sure that our stakeholders can have those conversations, to facilitate projects, connections and opportunities as well,” Epelle said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FirstBank lauds FG’s robust agriculture agenda

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Wed, 2025

Agriculture , Food Security

FirstBank lauds FG’s robust agriculture agenda

By Mercy Omoike

First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., has applauded the Federal Government’s efforts in boosting Nigeria’s agriculture agenda for food sovereignty.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Ltd., Mr Olusegun Alebiosu, said this at the bank’s 2025 Agric & Export Expo on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FirstBank 2025 Agric & Export Expo with the theme: “The Fundamentals of Building an Export-Driven Economy,” is aimed at boosting non-oil exports.

Alebiosu commended the federal government drive in achieving food sovereignty and vowed the bank’s continued commitment in fostering the growth Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to the 2025 edition of the FirstBank Agric & Export Expo.

“Over the years, this gathering has grown into a defining platform, a testament to FirstBank’s unwavering commitment to advancing Nigeria’s economic priorities.

“The expo reflects our shared vision for a stronger, more resilient economy, one anchored on food security, agribusiness, solid minerals, and most critically, the expansion of non-oil exports,’’ he said.

Alebiosu noted that agriculture that was once overlooked was gaining a significant place in the heart of Nigeria’s national development agenda.

“We commend the federal government’s commitment to elevating the sector and reaffirm our role as a steadfast partner in this journey.

“This year’s theme: The Fundamentals of Building an Export-Driven Economy, could not be timelier.

“As a nation, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our economic journey, one that demands bold diversification beyond oil and the harnessing of the vast opportunities in our non-oil sectors,” Alebiosu said.

He described the expo as a beacon for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.

“Our history is deeply connected to agriculture and non-oil sectors.

“For more than a century, we have played a defining role in financing industries that are vital not only to Nigeria’s economic progress, but also to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.

“Our portfolio spans the full spectrum of agribusiness, from primary production to processing and export.

“Across the country, our dedicated teams deliver sector-focused, client-friendly financial solutions tailored to the distinct needs of agricultural and solid minerals enterprises.

“This is ensuring that they have the resources to thrive and compete on a global scale,” Alebiosu said.

On his part, The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Ibrahim Alkali, commended the Bank’s commitment in the agriculture sector.

“The fundamentals of building non-oil export driven economy, is not merely an intellectual discussion, it is a survival strategy for our nation.

“Nigeria must no longer live at the mercy of oil marketers, but on the strength of productivity, our creativity and our resilience.

“FirstBank has long has been a pioneer in agricultural financing.

“Its agricultural portfolio has grown by N11.6 billion in recent years, supporting farmer’s processors and exporters.

“Through the commercial agriculture credit scheme, FirstBank has financed more enterprises than any other bank, accounting for over 23 per cent of all participation with dedicated agricultural finance teams,” Kyari said.

In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the bank while calling for more financing in the agriculture sector.

“We must move away from our dependence and build a resilient economy that is anchored on productivity, value addition and competitiveness in the non-oil sector.

“For over 130 years, FirstBank has stood as a part of Nigeria’s economic story by promoting exports.

“You are not only reaffirming your commitments and culture, but you are also signaling to farmers, to processors, to exporters, that you have a reliable partner in building a truly export driven economy.

“For this, I commend the Managing Director and the management at FirstBank for its leadership role for promoting agro-exports.

“We have to aggressively position agricultural product, we must ensure that we are competitive. We must secure our market share, and we must drive investment into the agro businesses,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Also, the Governor of Niger, Mr Mohammed Bago, commended the bank for tapping into President Tinubu’s Transformation Agenda in the agriculture sector.

“People must be able to feed themselves, and President Tinubu has made this a fundamental principle in this government, so we have scaled in.

“So, there is a need for us to tell our stories ourselves. On behalf of the Government of people of Niger State, I thank FirstBank for this exhibition,” Bago said.

Present at the expo were exhibitors across the various agriculture value chains as well as farmers’ associations. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

German Govt. supports climate-smart rice farming in 3 states

Lydia Beshel
Aug, Wed, 2025

Agriculture

German Govt. supports climate-smart rice farming in 3 states

Rice

By Felicia Imohimi

The German Government has inaugurated the Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE) Project to support 12,000 smallholder farmers in climate-smart rice production across Benue, Nasarawa, and Kano States.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Annett Günther, German Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

She said the three-year pilot project, running from 2024 to 2027, aimed to lay the groundwork for a future where farmers could benefit directly from climate action.

Günther added that the project was designed to help carbon markets thrive in a way that genuinely supported sustainable development and empowered smallholder farmers.

She said the project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), would be implemented by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) in collaboration with Olam Agri.

Günther explained that CORE would promote climate-smart rice cultivation practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while enhancing innovation, sustainable value chains, and long-term growth in Nigeria’s rice sector.

“There is an urgent need for practical steps to reduce emissions and strengthen the resilience of agriculture, given the escalating impacts of climate change,” she said.

Günther reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to climate finance, noting that in 2023, the German Government contributed 9.94 billion euro, leveraging public funds to attract private climate finance through revolving credit lines, structured funds, and public-private partnerships.

She added that BMZ, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union, had committed 117 million euro to its current agricultural portfolio in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.

“The funding aims to transform Nigeria’s agri-food system by boosting food security, employment, inclusive growth, and climate resilience.”

Alexis Brakhan, GIZ Implementation Manager for the CORE Project, explained that the initiative would promote alternate wetting and drying, as well as the use of biochar to improve soil health and reduce emissions.

“CORE is building a high-quality carbon initiative that links sustainable farming to carbon markets. It offers a scalable model for transforming agri-food systems,” he said.

Paul Nicholson, Senior Vice President of Rice at Olam Agri, described the project as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to food security and environmental sustainability.

“Carbon credits give farmers a stake in climate action, rewarding their adoption of climate-smart agriculture,” Nicholson said.

Olamide Fagbuji, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, noting that Nigeria loses around 100 million dollars annually to climate-related flooding.

He also pointed out that rice, the country’s staple crop, was one of the most climate-vulnerable.

Fagbuji stated that agriculture accounted for 25 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP but contributed 33 per cent of national GHG emissions, primarily due to methane from rice paddies.

“Without innovation, the twin challenges of food insecurity and rising emissions will only intensify. That’s why the CORE project is vital,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of alternate wetting and drying, improved seed varieties, and low-emission irrigation methods, which could reduce methane emissions, improve yields, conserve water, and empower rural communities.

Fagbuji urged both public and private stakeholders to invest in climate-smart agriculture and scale the CORE model across Nigeria’s rice-producing regions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Aug, Wed, 2025

Agriculture

FG unveils 2025 to 2030 youth manifesto in agriculture

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government, Leonard and Nkiruka Okonkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF) and other stakeholders have unveiled the 2025 to 2030 revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture for Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also unveiled is the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, in his remarks at the event which held in Abuja, identified the gesture as a youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation in the country.

Kyari described the manifesto as a testimony that young populace were not just beneficiaries of policy but architects and drivers of the future of agriculture in the country.

Represented by Mrs Safina Abdullah, Deputy Director, Planning and Policy Coordination in the ministry, he said the unveiling represented a call to duty.

He added that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the call to action was not left on paper but translated into actionable policies, investments and opportunities.

He also said that the manifesto was a practical operational plan with eight key priorities including agroecology and climate resilience, access to land and inputs, youth- responsive finance and market access.

The minister listed other priority areas to include research and agritech innovation, capacity development, gender and social inclusion, policy advocacy and governance and mentorship and intergenerational learning.

According to him, the manifesto is anchored on 2022 to 2027 national frameworks such as the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), the 2025 to 2030 revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture among others.

“The ministry will integrate the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action 2025 to 2030.

“The ministry is fully committed to working with LANOF and partners to develop a comprehensive National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy in line with the African Union’s African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS).

“This strategy will institutionalise the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum (NYAF) and provide a structured mechanism for implementing the manifesto and the call to action nationwide.”

Kyari explained that through targeted programmes on mechanisation, access to finance, digital platforms, capacity development and extension services, a system that empowers young farmers in the country would be created.

“They will take the lead in shaping a more resilient, innovative and inclusive agricultural sector,” he said.

He commended LANOF and HBF for their effort to come up with the revised manifesto as well as facilitating bold and inclusive youth driven process.

He further commended youth across the six geopolitical zones for their commitment in lending their voices, innovations and inspirations that have shaped the revised manifesto.

“I charge the youth to ensure the manifesto is not left alone but to be spurred by it to galvanise the sector with youthful strength and resilience.

“Rise to the challenge. Own this process. Build enterprises, not just farms. Innovate solutions, not just demand opportunities,” he added.

Nkiruka Okonkwo, Co-Founder LANOF, described the manifesto as a policy advocacy tool and a youth empowerment mechanism for building a resilient, inclusive and future-focused food systems in the country.

Okonkwo said the manifesto and the NYAF presented a bold, youth-led and youth-focused strategy to transform agriculture into inclusive and dynamic sector that would achieve national food security, employment and sustainability objectives.

She also said that the manifesto was a people-driven roadmap for achieving resourcing, recognition, and ensuring the representation of young people in Nigeria’s agricultural sector which fully aligned with the African Union Youth Agribusiness Call to Action.

According to her, the manifesto outlines practical pathways to unlock opportunities for youth leadership across agricultural value chains.

“The strength of this manifesto lies in its co-creation by the youth, and for the youth. These strategies outlined require multi-sectoral collaboration, technical support, and long-term investment.”

Similarly, Sophie von Knebel, Country Director, HBF, commended the effort of LANOF and other stakeholders for coming up with the document and expressed optimism that the manifesto would transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Knebel commended the youth for their resilience and urged them to own the agric space and work in accordance with the manifesto.

In the same vein, Blessing Akhile of the National Gender Steering Committee, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), described the unveiling as heartwarming.

Akhile said ActionAid remained committed to promoting inclusion in agriculture and would ensure the manifesto transformed into action in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Aug, Wed, 2025

Agriculture

German Govt. supports climate-smart rice farming in 3 states

By Felicia Imohimi

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Annett Günther, German Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

She said the three-year pilot project, running from 2024 to 2027, aimed to lay the groundwork for a future where farmers could benefit directly from climate action.

Günther added that the project was designed to help carbon markets thrive in a way that genuinely supported sustainable development and empowered smallholder farmers.

“There is an urgent need for practical steps to reduce emissions and strengthen the resilience of agriculture, given the escalating impacts of climate change,” she said.

Günther reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to climate finance, noting that in 2023, the German Government contributed 9.94 billion euros, leveraging public funds to attract private climate finance through revolving credit lines, structured funds, and public-private partnerships.

She added that BMZ, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union, had committed 117 million euros to its current agricultural portfolio in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.