The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Monday in Abuja announced a five million dollars additional grant for Nigeria on climate resilience and to boost dry season farming.
IFAD said the fund, targeted at small holder farmers, would help to improve production.
Part of it would be used to plant trees to mitigate erosion in the event of a new flood as well as to protect and revitalise the soil.
Ms Katherine Meighan, Associate Vice-President and General-Counsel of IFAD made these known during bilateral talks with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar.
The talks were held on the side-line of the launch of “Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Nigeria’’.
Meighan, who decried the devastating and tragic effect of recent flooding in Nigeria, noted that the disaster led to loss of lives, farmlands, agricultural produce and livestock.
She said IFAD would focus on building rural resilience, encourage small scale agriculture and improve sustainable vibrant communities.
“I am happy to announce an additional grant of five million dollars for IFAD’s Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) which will focus on climate resilience and this is really to help small holder farmers to improve production.
“It will improve the planting of trees to mitigate erosion if there are new floods and to protect and revitalise the soil and the building of small dams to mitigate drought.
“The dams will also serve as reservoirs to help in small-scale irrigation and further support dry season farming in Nigeria,’’ she said.
Meighan described the scaling up of IFAD investments in dry season farming through the additional financing as the organisation’s major commitment to Nigeria.
According to her, it is due to strong partnership between IFAD and Nigeria and the former’s determination to show solidarity with people affected by the devastating floods.
“We have been scaling up our investments particularly in dry season farming, working with smallholders and producers to plant climate-resistant seeds that germinate in shorter periods,’’ she said.
Meighan commended the Nigerian government for its investment in agriculture and described the sector as a critical requirement for food security.
Speaking on the launch of SAPZ, Meighan said the programme would have a direct impact on 100,000 beneficiaries, including small holder farmers and small-scale producers in the agriculture value chain.
