An agricultural programme, under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase 1, ATASP-1, has achieved 209, 464 metric tonnes of food worth N36.2 billion in four years.
National Programme Coordinator of ATASP-1, Ibrahim Arabi, who stated this at a media conference on the impact made in the agricultural sector, said the programme, which commenced in February 2015 and subsequently launched in March 2015, was funded by the African Development Bank, AfDB, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the tune of $174.85 million, including grant facility.
He stated further that the programme was for 5 years but extended for two years and was being implemented in line with Buhari’s government’s Green Alternate Agriculture Policy, GAAP, and Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP.
He added that the programme was ongoing in 200 rural communities, 33 local government areas in seven states, including Anambra, Enugu, Niger, Kano Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto, with a land area of 194,426km and a population of 32,121,944 people who are predominantly farmers.
He also pointed out that in order to achieve their objectives, they employed capacity building/training and empowerment of farmers, women and youth, among others, across the three commodity value chains of rice, cassava and sorghum, alongside rural infrastructure development.
The economic infrastructure development, rural roads and irrigation infrastructure implementation process has started with the invitation of bids already sent out last month July.
The outreach programme is implementation by the International Institute Tropical Agricultural, IITA, in partnership with AfricaRice and ICRISAT, has ensured production and productivity enhancement of the target commodities.
He said: “Since inception to date, ATASP-1 has trained over 20,000 farmers and processors among others, including women and youth on Good Agricultural Practices, GAP, and food processing across the four zones.
“The programme has contributed to the food and nutrition security, job and wealth creation objectives of Nigeria’s agricultural policy. About 299,615 jobs have been created, compared to a target of 120,000; 209,464 metric tonnes of food, valued at N36.2 billion has been injected into the economy, against a target of 100, 000 metric tonnes; and the increase of income of farmers and entrepreneurs by 20.5 per cent at Mid Term Review (MTR) of the programme gives confidence that the target of 25 per cent increase in income for the programme beneficiaries is achievable at the end of the programme.
“Over 50 percent of programme beneficiaries have adopted the improved technologies introduced in respect of production, processing and post-harvest handling of rice, sorghum and cassava.
”Some of the programme beneficiaries who have adopted the technologies promoted by ATASP-1 have been able to acquire additional assets through enhancement of income.”
