The Nasarawa State Government has secured a $370,000 grant from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to foster inclusive transformation in the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Nasarawa State Capability for Inclusive Agriculture Transformation project on Friday in Lafia, AGRA’s Country Director, Mr. Rufus Idris, highlighted the organization’s commitment to empowering Africans to take charge of transforming their agriculture and food systems.
Founded in 2006 by the late Dr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, AGRA has supported agricultural initiatives in Nigeria for 17 years, particularly in Kaduna and Niger States. Idris revealed that over one million smallholder farmers in Nigeria have benefitted from AGRA’s interventions.
Idris noted that Nasarawa State’s partnership with AGRA is significant due to the various initiatives of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration and the state’s critical role in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
The AGRA-funded project aims to develop an Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Investment Plan for Nasarawa State. It also seeks to build the capacity of staff within the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to drive agricultural transformation. The project will be implemented by Jesnoch International, with support from the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA) and the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP).
Idris called on stakeholders in the state’s agriculture sector to actively contribute to the project to ensure its success.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Umar Abdullahi, represented by the Managing Director of NASIDA, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, expressed gratitude to AGRA for the partnership. He reiterated that agriculture is central to Nasarawa’s economic development, given the state’s agrarian nature.
“Nasarawa’s Economic Development Strategy focuses on transitioning the state from subsistence to commercial agriculture, creating jobs, and revitalizing the economy. Agriculture is a major driver of growth for this new trajectory,” Abdullahi said.
He emphasized that the partnership with AGRA aligns with the agricultural reforms implemented by Governor Sule’s administration since 2019.
Dr. Charles Iyangbe, CEO of Jesnoch International, outlined that the project will run from January 2025 to June 2027. It will work within the institutional framework and enabling environment of agribusiness to develop an updated State Agricultural Policy document. This document will aim to facilitate food system transformation and attract investments.
Iyangbe added that the project will also develop a State Agricultural Investment Plan aligned with the National Agricultural Investment Plan and build the capacity of 30 ministry staff to ensure effective implementation.
By aligning with AGRA’s vision, Nasarawa State is poised to strengthen its agricultural ecosystem and drive sustainable economic growth.
