The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has reported that 2,021,468 farmers have received services and inputs under the Feed The Future, Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services program. This initiative worth $16.8 million Investment is a five-year development initiative that collaborates with micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) to support learning, replication, and scaling around alternative models of extension services in order to increase access and adoption of improved agricultural technologies,
According to the USAID FTF team, the project which is already in its fourth year, is focused on five food value chains, including maize, rice, cowpea, soybean, and aquaculture, and it was initially aimed at 2 million smallholder farmers in Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger States, respectively. In order for MSMEs to reach smallholder farmers and increase their capacity, the project has identified and promoted 39 most impactful practices (MIPs) as essential extension Innovation business solutions. It also collaborated with 311 MSMEs who use extension messaging and monetize the MIPS in order to reach more farmers, increase transaction volume, and expand their operations.
A total of 1,088 gainful jobs were created by MSMEs.
Through this approach, the MSMEs were able to enhance the income and Productivity of the farmers by 100 percent while also offering extension services and inputs on the most impactful and improved agricultural methods to over 2 million smallholder farmers. A total of 1,088 gainful jobs were created by MSMEs, primarily youths, to deal with the growing demand for agricultural inputs and extension by the growing number of farmers in their business network. Approximately 70% of the improved agricultural practices are climate smart to help farmers build resilience to climate change.
Farmers are trained on climate-smart agricultural practices, including drought-resistant seeds, pest control, and soil fertility management to increase productivity, in partnership with national and local extension officers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Private Sector to provide them with actionable, context-specific advice at scale. Additionally, it makes it easier for farmers to obtain new technologies, such as mechanized farming equipment, better crops, and fertilizers. It also enhances the abilities of agricultural extension agents, guaranteeing that they can offer farmers in their locations correct and pertinent guidance.
Smallholder farmers provided with access to affordable financing.
Speaking on the development, Jean Pierre-Rousseau, the project director for the USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services activity stated that smallholder farmers have been provided access to affordable financing to invest in raising their productivity, raising their earnings, and can now invest in securing their futures. The private sector extension services provided to MSME units have been shown to have a catalytic effect on Food Security through the entrepreneurship, inventiveness, and innovation of those MSMEs.
With this intervention, farmers have reported 20–40% increases in production rates for staple crops such rice, cassava, and maize as a result of the program’s initiatives. Given that most Nigerians rely on Agriculture for their livelihoods, these improvements are essential for ensuring food Security in the country. Smallholder farmers have also observed 25–30% rise in income, increased productivity and easier access to better markets. Many families have been able to invest in better living conditions, health care, and Education as a result. The Feed the Future project places a strong emphasis on youth and gender inclusion with over half of its beneficiaries being women, who typically encounter obstacles when trying to obtain agricultural inputs and extension services.
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Additionally, the initiative encourages young people to consider agriculture as a viable and lucrative career path. Nigeria’s Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services is still making great progress in raising food security and agricultural productivity. Aside from helping farmers escape poverty, the initiative boosts the entire agricultural value chain and advances Nigeria’s Economy by providing them the information, resources, and market access they require. The organization hopes to reach more farmers in distant locations by implementing additional digital tools, such as mobile platforms, to provide advisory services.