Reported by: Agande Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has revealed that the $500 million loan facility from the World Bank will accelerate development across Nigeria’s agriculture sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by a World Bank delegation led by Hardwick Ichale, Head of Agriculture Value Chains for Growth (AGROW Project), at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja.
Senator Kyari explained that the $14 billion, six-year AGROW initiative aims to address longstanding gaps in smallholder farming by improving connectivity across the agricultural value chain. The programme will link farmers, processors, markets, and financial systems, thereby strengthening value chains, expanding agro-processing capacity, and improving rural livelihoods.
He added that the project will support farmer aggregation, create market linkages, and integrate micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) into key agricultural value chains. Kyari stressed the importance of organized farmer participation, transparency, and effective oversight to ensure accountability and maximize impact.
“The intervention complements ongoing Federal Government programmes, including Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), driving rural agro-industrial growth and providing new opportunities for youth and women in agribusiness,” Kyari said.
Hardwick Ichale emphasized that the AGROW Project will unlock Nigeria’s agribusiness potential, generate jobs for youths and women, promote inclusivity, and enhance productivity. He noted that the initiative will initially target rice, maize, soybean, and cassava value chains, with the goal of helping farmers see farming as a viable business venture.
The update was provided by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of the Department of Information, on November 4, 2025, ensuring the public receives accurate information on Nigeria’s agricultural transformation initiatives.
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