has been listed among seven states to benefit from a €18.3 million climate-smart agriculture programme jointly backed by the German government, the European Union and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The initiative, known as the EU-VACE TARED Project, is designed to revitalise key agricultural value chains and strengthen rural economies. Running from October 2024 to September 2028, the project will be implemented by the German development agency GIZ in partnership with federal ministries and participating state governments.
Under the scheme, four major value chains — cocoa, dairy, tomatoes and ginger — will receive targeted support aimed at improving productivity, upgrading processing capacity and boosting farmers’ access to finance. The project also plans to equip smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with new skills and technologies while promoting climate-smart practices to reduce environmental impact.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola, described the state as a conducive and secure environment for agricultural investment when he hosted the project team in Akure. He said the state government is eager to collaborate and tap into opportunities the initiative will bring to local farmers and the wider economy.
The EU-VACE TARED programme is part of broader development cooperation efforts between Nigeria, the EU and Germany under the Global Gateway framework, aimed at strengthening food security, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth across the country.
