A non-governmental organisation, Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) has engaged stakeholders in the agricultural sector to strengthen linkages and supply networks for sustainable access to agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
The 3- day Agricultural inputs supply workshop taking place in Bauchi State organised by CASCADE with funding from the government of the Netherlands brought together stakeholders from the academia, State Ministries of Agriculture, Agricultural Development Programmes and the private sector from four States of Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi and Nasarawa.
Project Manager of CASCADE, Isaac Audu said the workshop is an avenue for the academia who are into research, ADPs and the private sector to come together and identify existing structures to help smallholder farmers to access services.
He added that it is also important to see how flexible these agricultural services are to smallholder farmers.
The Project Manager further said the outcome of the workshop is to identify models to engage women farmers in communities.
“There are many companies producing farming inputs whose presence is not felt in communities and thus this workshop is a platform for them to network and establish their presence close to the farmers.”
Audu noted that CASCADE has demonstration farms in the four states it is operating and will want the agricultural supply companies to showcase their products on these farms where the farmers can see them.
“CASCADE has signed an MOU with ADPs in Bauchi, Jigsaw, Kebbi and Nasarawa States where we will leverage on government existing structures like women in agriculture at the local government level who will carryout food demonstration and nutritional education interventions in communities.”
He emphasized that CASCADE will work with companies whose products have a direct connection to nutrition.
CASCADE Nigeria is providing services to 1.1 million women of reproductive age and children under 5 years, addressing malnutrition and climate and prize-related shocks with importance to the food supply.
It’s also focused on three policy areas that include National policy on food and nutrition, National social protection policy and National action on food and nutrition.
The various ministries of agriculture of the four states are hopeful that at the end of the workshop, the outcome will lead to improved livelihood for the people.
By Lizzy Carr
