Agriculture and Food security - Nigeria
Agriculture and food security
The Netherlands in Nigeria
The Nigerian government’s policy is focused on diversification of the economy and development of the agricultural sector. With a 24% GDP contribution and more than 35% employment, agriculture is still Nigeria's largest sector. The Netherlands in Nigeria facilitates the development of a sustainable and gender- and youth-inclusive Agriculture/ horticulture sector that contributes to food security in Nigeria through our various intervention programs.
Our vision
We envision a Nigerian food system that provides sufficient healthy food to a fast growing population, that creates jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities and that respects the natural environment.
Our approach
From the Dutch side we offer the Dutch Diamond approach, whereby we stimulate partnerships between the private sector, government agencies, knowledge institutions and civil society and we look at the entire food system, beyond primary production. We take a targeted approach and focus on seed sector development and horticulture because that is where The Netherlands can add the most value.
Seed sector
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- Nigerian farmers have limited access to and make limited use of quality seeds of new and improved varieties, which contributes to low crop productivity. That is why we decided to invest in multiple seed projects in Nigeria under the umbrella of the Netherlands-Nigeria Seed Partnership. In our Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP 2020-2024) for example, we work jointly with the National Agricultural Seeds Council on a seed sector development strategy, or a national seed road map which identifies 22 critical topics to resolve. Our implementing partner, Sahel Consulting is addressing 8 of these topics.
- CSP reaches 43% and 46% of targets for female and youth farmers in 'Seed company marketing and promotion', promoting inclusion in other topics.
- CSP upgrades Seed Tracker software to include maize and rice tracking information. CSP accelerates vegetable variety release in 12 months from 43 months, enabling faster access for farmers to improved varieties.
- CSP trains 5,876 farmers and 13 seed companies on improved varieties and Good Agricultural Practices. 45 demo plots (for rice, maize and sorghum, tomatoes, peppers and cabbage) in Kano and Kaduna to showcase improved seed varieties for seed companies.
Horticulture sector
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- Nigeria is currently unable to meet the local market demand for vegetables with a supply gap of 13 million metric tons for tomato, onion and okra as at 2021.
- HortiNigeria program targets 60,000 small holder vegetables farmers producers in Kano, Kaduna; as well as over a thousand entrepreneurial famers in Ogun, and Oyo states, focusing on productivity, income, production system innovations, SMEs access, and sector coordination.
- Over 45,000 farmers registered in Kano and Kaduna states, Trained over 40,000 farmers 72% youth, Identified 20 Innovations Technology for pilot, 28 B2B linkages and brokered, 15 B2B partnerships, Identified more than 500 Entrepreneurial Farmers.
Greenport Nigeria
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- Piloting in Ogun State, Nigeria-Dutch Horticulture Collaboration Project (Greenport) targets young Nigerian professionals focusing on protected cultivation and soilless farming techniques, knowledge transfer Collaboration, increase productivity, and sales.
- From the perspective of feeding the cities and commercially driven agribusiness we conducted a study on protected horticulture titled : Towards Sustainable Food Production: A Report on the Feasibility of Protected Horticulture Methods in South West Nigeria and we have also organized a fact finding mission to The Netherlands.
Youth and Women
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- While we have always identified youth and women as a cross cutting component in our programs, a new program implemented by IITA was launched to specifically focus on these important people in agribusiness.
- The Youth in Agribusiness program targets 10,000 youths (18 35 age range) 40-50% women in FCT, Kano, Oyo, and Ogun states to create four Innovative Agribusiness Hubs, aims to create viable agribusiness enterprises using innovative climate-smart technologies and business practices that increase income and productivity, and improve access to markets in the agribusiness sector.
SDGP EWS-Knowledge transfer
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- Over three years, 136,200 smallholder farmers in Kano and Kaduna states received training on improved farming skills, increasing livelihood and food security.
- The program involved 46,000 in-person intensive training and 30,000 trainer programs, 30 women and 60% youth. Outreach efforts, radio broadcasting, and Facebook page outreach contributed to increased profitability.
Agro Commodity Export Market
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- The Netherlands, Europe's largest ginger importer and trader, increased ginger imports by 13% annually between 2017-2021, with 96% coming from developing countries. AFEX, Africa's fastest growing company, exports 10% cocoa and 30% dry ginger to the Netherlands, worth $20 million annually.
- CBI project aims to transform Nigeria's ginger and Shea sectors into a high-quality, sustainable, regional, and EU market-ready sector by supporting SMEs in adding value, enabling market access, and establishing a service delivery model. 15 participating companies(ginger) and 12 shea companies completed EMPs and are implementing them. In 2022, SMEs were introduced to the EU market through a market orientation mission, and in 2023, they also participated in the Anuga trade show in Cologne.
Insect 4 feed Impact Cluster
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- Nigerian imports 96% of the fish meal used in the production of animal feeds mostly from Europe. Insects 4 Feed impact cluster in Nigeria aims to address the growing need for a local, Sustainable local insect production sector in Oyo state, providing affordable feed for Nigerian aquaculture and poultry industries.
- With 15 young people per year in 18 month Insect Business Incubation Programme, 45% incubation programme participants female, 5 large scale rearers, 8 medium scale and 2 small scale, creating 800 jobs per cohort after 5 years. Based on scaling activities of entrepreneurs, 1300 tonnes of insect protein available on the market (per cohort after 5 years)
Let's farm the future together!
Questions via e-mail
Agroberichten Buitenland (in Dutch)