…intervention targets 456,000 Households directly in eight years
The Federal Government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the French Development Agency (AFD) is set to accelerate the commencement of the value chain programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN) which aims to contribute sustainably to poverty reduction, enhanced nutrition and better resilience of rural people in the nine northern states of Nigeria.
The programme will deploy an inclusive and sustainable value chain development approach as an enabler for rural transformation.
Speaking during the complementary Studies Validation Workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari reiterated the government’s efforts to end insecurity in some parts of Northern Nigeria and position the region for wealth creation by empowering smallholder farmers.
In line with the above, Kyari agreed that the VCN program represents a crucial effort to transform the agricultural sector in Northern Nigeria, which has long struggled with high poverty rates, insecurity, and climate change.
According to him, over 70% of the population in this region lives in extreme poverty and relies heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Represented by the Director, Projects Coordination Unit, FMAFS, Mr. Bukar Musa, the Minister said, “This workshop is a pivotal moment as we focus on turning challenges into opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers.


“The VCN program aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to address food security through climate-resilient practices and sustainable agricultural growth, as outlined in the Presidential Emergency Declaration on Food Security.
Commenting on the complementary studies ahead of the project implementation, Kyari acknowledged the essential contributions of state Commissioners of Agriculture from the nine beneficiary states, whose leadership and involvement have been instrumental in the design and production of the complementary studies for the VCN program.
“We commend them for their active role and input during the complementary studies, which aim to strengthen the program’s strategies and ensure they are tailored to the region’s needs.
“The studies conducted under this program are vital to refine our approach in four key areas: (1) Production and marketing of priority value chains; (2) Nutrition; (3) Supporting farmers organizations; and (4) Rural finance.
Furthermore, the Minister appreciated IFAD, AFD, and the FAO for their technical support in advancing the program’s design, while stressing the importance of continued collaboration among all actors and stakeholders to ensure the success of the VCN initiative.
“Let us remember that the impact of this program is not just in the studies, but in the tangible improvement to the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and vulnerable populations. Our collective effort will help pave the way for more resilient agricultural systems and better food security outcomes,” he added.
On her part, Ms. Dede Ekoue, Country Director, IFAD Nigeria, who emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable development, explained that the program’s funding has been approved and is now setting the stage for accelerating the readiness for effective implementation of the programme.
“In fact, we are front-loading the work that needs to be done after signing of the program documents as we understand the urgency in launching the implementation of the VCN Program in support of government ongoing efforts for sustainable and inclusive development in the North.
“These complementary studies were financed by IFAD and AFD with contribution from FAO investment Centre. This collaborative and systematic approach with development partners and UN agencies fosters the scaling up and efficiency on investment in support of national priorities for agri-food systems transformation and sustainable development along the Humanitarian, Development Peace Nexus in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNDSDCF) and AFD Nigeria Country Intervention Strategy.”


Also, Ms. Sally Ibrahim, Representing the Country Director AFD Nigeria, provided insight into the program’s objectives.
In her words: “We have a program that is supposed to work on improving the conditions in northern states, improving the income for the vulnerable population, especially the farmers in the rural areas while boosting food and nutritional security.”
Specifically, Ibrahim noted that the eight-year program aims to support the creation of a robust economy and opportunities for rural populations in the northern states.
“The program’s focus on value chain development and rural finance, among others, is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of rural populations in Northern Nigeria.”

Speaking to AgroNigeria, Mr. Braimah Tofiq, who represented the Country Representative of FAO, described the VCN initiative as timely, aligning with Nigeria’s food security agenda.
Tofiq stressed that beyond increasing production, VCN will ensure market access, sustainable financing, and long-term economic benefits for farmers.


“With extensive stakeholder engagement and field assessments, the programme is set to drive economic growth, empower youth and women, and contribute significantly to national food security.”
Meanwhile, the VCN program, which was validated in March 2024, is designed to address the specific needs of nine Northern Nigerian states: Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. It focuses on improving market integration, promoting nutrition-sensitive production, strengthening rural finance and farmer organizations. VCN is expected to be signed in August 2025, thereafter it will commence implementation.
The project will directly reach an estimated 456,000 smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs along with 40 per cent women, 60 per cent youth, 10 per cent People with disabilities (PWD) and 5 per cent IDP returnees.
The VCN program also aligns with national as well as donor’s agricultural policies, including Nigeria’s National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), IFAD-FGN Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP 2024-2029) and global development goals, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger among others). This alignment ensures that the program’s efforts contribute to national development priorities as well as the global agenda of poverty reduction and food security.
On the other hand, the complementary studies, conducted by the FAO Investment Centre with financing support of IFAD and AFD, sought to provide a better in-depth understanding of the context in which the VCN project will be implemented and identify the leverage points as well as the challenges faced. Extensive field visits and engagement with farmers, agri-preneurs, civil societies and government officials (about 750 institutions and organisations) at all levels were undertaken to ensure a comprehensive inclusive approach for the studies’ outcomes and provide a concrete guidance to implementers.
On funding for the programme, IFAD will be providing a total of $86.7 million, the AFD will provide $78.2 million, the Federal Government will provide $12 million, and the beneficiary states will support with $8 million.
