About one million small holder farmers in Nigeria are set to be empowered by the Heifer International Nigeria with a goal of boosting the country’s food security.
Country Communication Manager, Chuba Ezeigwe confirmed the report and said they are mostly targeting women and youth, to reach a sustainable living income by 2030. Through strategic private and public sector partnerships, Heifer Nigeria’s program is focused on developing the social capital of smallholder farmers, unlocking demand and market opportunities, investing in priority value chains critical to the country, leveraging innovation and emerging agricultural technologies to reach impact at transformational scales.
Food self-sufficiency
The Communication Manger said they aim to unlock potential for food self-sufficiency in the value chains of tomato, poultry and rice. They will also assist the farmers to access premium market, finance, insurance, innovation and farming techniques.
“Heifer Nigeria aims to assist more than one million households, largely women and youths, reach a sustainable living income by 2030, through strategic private and public sector partnerships, unlocking demand and market opportunities, investing in priority value chains and leveraging innovation and emerging agricultural technologies to reach transformational scale,” said Ezeigwe.
“Through a holistic approach, Heifer Nigeria is collaborating with stakeholders within the Nigerian agricultural ecosystem. These include young technology innovators/entrepreneurs, tech hubs, agribusinesses and farmers groups, investors, and financiers. This is aimed at developing and scaling more inclusive, commercially viable, and sustainable agribusiness models and innovations capable of increasing productivity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural sector to curb food insecurity and poverty,” he added.
