The Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to expedite the release of a $5 million Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant to the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for climate change adaptation efforts.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by IFAD’s delegation, led by Associate Vice President Dr. Donal Brown, to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The ASAP, which channels climate finance to smallholder farmers, was launched in 2021 with the aim of supporting small-scale producers in adapting to climate change. Additionally, the Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+) is set to become the largest fund dedicated to channelling climate finance to small-scale producers.
Kyari also sought IFAD’s approval for a two-year extension to enable the programme to improve its disbursement status, highlighting the successful implementation of various initiatives under the Federal Government of Nigeria/IFAD Portfolios such as the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Value Chain Development Program (VCDP) Additional Financing (AF), and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme.
He expressed confidence in IFAD’s future trajectory and emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging innovation for agri-food system transformation, including organising an agriculture and food security summit to facilitate partnerships and strategic collaborations.
In response, Dr. Donal Brown, IFAD’s Associate Vice President, commended Nigeria’s commitment and pledged to address arrears owed from previous programmes while strengthening existing projects. He affirmed IFAD’s dedication to initiating new projects to bolster agriculture and food security in Nigeria.
The collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and IFAD underscore a shared commitment to agricultural development, climate resilience, and food security in Nigeria. As both entities work towards enhancing partnerships and implementing innovative solutions, smallholder farmers stand to benefit from increased support and improved livelihoods.
