Dr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice President of the Programme Management Department for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), disclosed that Nigeria has the largest portfolio in West Africa and the second largest in all of Africa.
Dr. Brown made this disclosure at the Federal Government-IFAD Open House and Exhibition Fair held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He stated that IFAD projects in Nigeria, implemented in cooperation with the Federal Government, have positively impacted 3,912,180 rural households in the country.
He identified some of the key projects as: Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Niger Delta, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) and Non-Sovereign Private Sector Operation (NSO) and Grants
Dr. Brown emphasized that IFAD has been a trusted partner of Nigeria in reducing rural poverty. The organization continues to collaborate with the Nigerian government in developing agricultural value chains, enhancing community-driven development, and fostering profitable smallholder agribusinesses.
“IFAD also partners in building rural institutions and promoting financial inclusion for rural poor households,” he added.
While remarking, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, National Project Coordinator for IFAD-VCDP, explained that the event aimed to showcase IFAD’s achievements in Nigeria since 1985.
Dr. Aliyu said the organization has impacted rural households and smallholder farmers by improving their incomes and ensuring food security. They achieve this by supporting sustainable production, processing, and marketing of rice and cassava.
According to Dr. Aliyu, the VCDP covers nine states: Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Enugu, Kogi, and Nasarawa.
