Food security: NIRSAL empowers 2,000 farmers in 4 states

To boost food security in Nigeria, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc recently concluded a comprehensive midyear training programme for lead farmers and extension agents in the aquaculture and cassava value chains across Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States. The initiative, designed to enhance farmers’ capacities to access and repay commercial loans, engaged over 2,000 participants and included representatives from state governments.

Focusing on the Agro Geo-Cooperative® approach to primary production, NIRSAL targets experienced lead farmers who can disseminate new knowledge to their respective cooperatives. In Imo State, the program attracted around 500 participants across urban and rural locations, emphasizing efficient fish production models. Similar aquaculture-focused training was held in Sokoto, while Oyo and Kwara concentrated on cassava cultivation.

Mr. Uche Agabige, Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, praised NIRSAL for incorporating Imo into this capacity-building initiative, recognizing its potential to complement local efforts in boosting agricultural productivity.

Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, noted that the training, part of NIRSAL’s Technical Assistance to agricultural value chain actors, was conducted simultaneously in three other states, covering four geopolitical zones.

He explained that lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered in urban and rural settings in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States.

These trained individuals are expected to pass on their knowledge to an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.

NIRSAL’s teams were warmly received and commended by local officials, including the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Akinyele Local Government Chairman in Oyo State, as well as the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Farmers’ Interventions, among others.

The training programme also emphasized the formation of functional cooperatives with proper governance structures, readiness for potential protocol breaches, and early warning systems. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the new insights gained, committing to share this knowledge with their cooperative members.

NIRSAL Plc, an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), aims to de-risk agriculture and agribusiness financing in Nigeria. By stimulating the flow of finance and investment into the agricultural value chain from multiple sources, NIRSAL seeks to enhance the overall productivity and sustainability of Nigeria’s agriculture sector. The Imo training exercise is aligned with one of NIRSAL’s five pillars—Technical Assistance, which focuses on researching, developing, and promoting value chain fixing initiatives.