SmartPreneur
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Trending News
  • Brand Insights
  • Profiles
  • Hustle Life
  • Weekend Teaser
  • Radio
  • TV
  • Games & Quizzes
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending News
  • Brand Insights
  • Profiles
  • Hustle Life
  • Weekend Teaser
  • Radio
  • TV
  • Games & Quizzes
No Result
View All Result
SmartPreneur
No Result
View All Result
Home Trending News

USAID awards $500,000 co-investment grant to boost agric in Nigeria

Blessing Osazuwa by Blessing Osazuwa
June 16, 2021
in Trending News
0
USAID awards $500,000 co-investment grant to boost agric in Nigeria
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday announced that it has awarded a $500,000 (N205 million) co-investment grant through its West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade hub) to PYXERA Global to boost Nigeria’s agricultural systems and food security pursuit.

Join our communityJoin our communityJoin our community

This was disclosed in a statement by Michael Clements, Trade hub’s chief of party.

“The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub has awarded a $500,000 co-investment grant to PYXERA Global, a not-for-profit with extensive experience designing training and capacity-building programs, to support the launch of its West Africa Agriculture Resilience Program (WAFARP),” the statement partly reads.

It said the programme will assist 10,000 farmers cultivating rice, maize, and soybean within Nigeria’s Kebbi, Cross River, and Benue States.

According to the statement, these states are focal areas for the Trade Hub in Nigeria, whose work aligns with and supports the mission of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative.

It said the smallholder farmers PYXERA Global is assisting have faced numerous challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including income loss from not producing crops as planned, and that their challenges have resulted in disrupted market channels and food supply chains.

Based on this, Mr Clements said the initiative would be leveraging on the existing agribusiness systems of Dantata Foods and Allied Products Company Limited (Dantata Foods), while PYXERA Global will provide an avenue for smallholders in its programme to increase crop yield and boost their incomes.

“Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, negatively impacting smallholder farmers and the communities of people who depend on their success in growing crops,” Mr Clements said.

He said; “We are excited about the potential of PYXERA Global’s West Africa Agriculture Resilience Program to bolster agricultural systems and expect to co-invest in other such programs as part of our COVID-19 rapid response initiative.”

Ann Oden, the programme’s team lead was quoted to have said; “Under the West Africa Agriculture Resilience Program model, we have designed a program that is based on strengthening systems for three agricultural value chains—rice, soybeans and maize,”

“This initiative leverages private sector resources to deliver a strategic program, with the goal of bringing economic prosperity to smallholder farmers while ensuring sustained food security,” she said.

How the initiative would be implemented

Mr Clements explained further that the goal will be achieved by first bringing all the smallholders into Dantata Foods’ outgrower programme, as the company will both assist the smallholders to increase crops yields and buy from them as well.

He said to ensure quality output for the crops it buys, the company will supply the smallholders with quality seeds and other farm inputs.

While being supported by PYXERA Global, the statement noted that Dantata Foods will also provide training programs to help the smallholders produce higher-quality crops that command better prices.

“The crops produced through the program will be taken to Dantata Foods’ aggregation centers already located in the three target states of Kebbi, Cross River, and Benue, where the smallholders will be paid by the company at prevailing market rates,” the statement noted.

It said to assist Dantata Foods and the smallholders it is supporting within and outside the program, PYXERA Global, will further fund upgrades to the aggregation centers to allow for state-of-the art cleaning and sorting equipment.

Dantata Foods chairman, Tajuddeen Dantata, said, “It is our greatest aim to support and improve the livelihood of everyone in the society, especially the underrepresented women and youth in the agricultural sector.”

Through the program, he explained that the smallholders which will include 50 per cent women or youth are anticipated to produce 25,000 metric tonnes of each of the value chains in the first season and an additional 5,000 metric tons in the subsequent seasons.
“The total net income is projected to be $6.72 million and $9.8 million for each respective season,” he said.
Premium Times
Tags: AgribusinessAgripreneurInvestment in AgricultureSmallholder farmersUSAID
Previous Post

5 online platforms to get collateral-free loans for your small business in Nigeria

Next Post

Akin-Olugbade of Kawai Technologies is set to share all about starting and running a distribution company in Nigeria

Blessing Osazuwa

Blessing Osazuwa

Blessing does the research to bring you needed information for success.

Related Posts

COVID-19 Fund: CBN Disburses N107.45bn To Beneficiaries To SMEs, Others
Trending News

SabiMONI: What the new CBN Initiative means for entrepreneurs

by Blessing Osazuwa
May 18, 2023
0

In an effort to enhance financial inclusion and promote financial literacy within Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has...

Read more
The Power of Passion: Why Hilda Baci’s Cook-a-Thon Resonated with Millions
Trending News

The Power of Passion: Why Hilda Baci’s Cook-a-Thon Resonated with Millions

by Blessing Osazuwa
May 17, 2023
0

Nigerian chef and restaurateur, Hilda Effiong Bassey, professionally known as Hilda Baci, set her sights on breaking the Guinness World...

Read more
Report: Imo State Leads Nigeria in Digital Innovation
Trending News

Report: Imo State Leads Nigeria in Digital Innovation

by Blessing Osazuwa
May 10, 2023
0

Imo State has emerged as the top state in Nigeria for digital innovation and entrepreneurship development, according to the State...

Read more
Orange Corners Opens 2023 Incubation Programme For Young Entrepreneurs
Trending News

Orange Corners Opens 2023 Incubation Programme For Young Entrepreneurs

by Blessing Osazuwa
May 10, 2023
0

The Orange Corners Incubation Programme 2023 is currently open for applications, with the aim of developing and strengthening the entrepreneurship...

Read more
Pitch to anyone anywhere
Ask an Expert

How to pitch your business to Anyone, Anywhere

by Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon
May 1, 2023
0

As a business owner or entrepreneur, being able to pitch your business effectively is crucial to success. Whether you're in...

Read more
What your business budget should look like…
Grow

How to start and grow a profitable online store in 12 weeks

by Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon
April 26, 2023
0

It is no secret that many business owners are taking the online route to start and grow their business. Even...

Read more
6 free business courses every entrepreneur should take
Hustle life

Real revenue or not; What you need to know before calculating your revenue

by Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon
April 18, 2023
0

Tales abound of business owners who get run out of business despite making sales after sales. Maybe the million dollar...

Read more
Load More
Next Post
Setting up and running a distribution company in Nigeria

Akin-Olugbade of Kawai Technologies is set to share all about starting and running a distribution company in Nigeria

Please login to join discussion

Recent News

Top 6 Ways to Foster Creativity in your Business

Top 6 Ways to Foster Creativity in your Business

June 2, 2023
How to Balance Price Increase, Profitability and Customer Loyalty

How to Balance Price Increase, Profitability and Customer Loyalty

June 2, 2023
Staying Afloat in Stormy Seas as an Entrepreneur

Staying Afloat in Stormy Seas as an Entrepreneur

June 1, 2023
Thinking of Improving your Customer Service Strategy? Ask These 5 Questions

Thinking of Improving your Customer Service Strategy? Ask These 5 Questions

May 31, 2023
SmartPreneur

© 2020 SmartPreneur

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Trending News
  • Radio
  • Games & Quizzes
  • TV

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending News
  • Radio
  • TV
  • Hustle Life
  • Brand Insights
  • Profiles
  • Game & Quizzes
  • Weekend Teaser

© 2020 SmartPreneur