As part of efforts aimed at boosting food production in Africa in realization of the continent’s dream of self sufficiency in food, the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) has launched a $2.2 mill project in Nigeria to boost fertilizer supply to 200,000 farmers. The trade credit guarantee project is AFFM’s first in Nigeria and will involve 10 fertilizer suppliers, 12 hub agro-dealers and 120 retail agro-dealers.The project will also train farmers in proper fertilizer use and other agricultural best practices.
The project according to the Nigerian government was conceptualized by the African Development Bank as part of its Hi-5 programmes at developing the continent. During its launch in Abuja over the week, attendees discussed the project and its implementation with AFFM’s local partner, the Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, or AFAP. According to AFAP’s representative Nana-Aisha Mohammed, “we will leverage on existing networks and look for creative solutions to increase the availability of fertilizer in the country.”
Assistant Director of FMARD’s Farm Inputs Support Services Department who represented the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Umar Musa said that AFAP should work with the Nigerian government and other actors in the fertilizer value chain to ensure that the project complies with Nigeria’s policies and sector strategies. “We expect this project to support smallholder farmers and improve their productivity in order to help the country increase its local production and consumption of fertilizer,” he said.
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“We are confident that the project will increase access to quality and affordable fertilizer by smallholder farmers and hence contribute to the transformation of the agriculture sector in Nigeria,” said Marie Claire Kalihangabo, AFFM Coordinator. Kalihangabo expressed her gratitude to the Government of Nigeria for their financial support to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism.
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Regional Director at the African Development Bank’s Regional Office Ebrima Faal said the National Fertilizer Quality Control Act 2019 further serves to reinforce the government’s commitment to the sector. “This program is timely because the government has placed measures to encourage local production of fertilizer,” he added.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry