The nations of Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have collectively contributed €100 million to enhance the agricultural resilience of small-scale food producers in the Sahel region. This initiative seeks to create a lasting impact in the battle against desertification, land degradation, and landscape and watershed management through collaborative planning, effectively integrating soil, water, and biodiversity.
Bidjokazo Fofana, the Programme Director of the International Fertilizer Development Centre, made this announcement during the pre-launch of the new initiative, ‘Soil Values,’ held in Abuja on Monday.
In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation warned that a potential food crisis could affect no fewer than 26.5 million Nigerians between June and August 2024. The FAO identified states such as Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, as being at a higher risk.
Dominique Kouacou, the FAO country representative, attributed the food insecurity to ongoing security issues, such as insurgency and banditry, as well as natural resource-based conflicts and the high costs of food and agricultural inputs due to inflation.
Fofana highlighted the programme’s objective to bring together various donor communities to explore opportunities for additional funding, benefiting not only Sahelian countries but also the broader regional and international community. The €100 million budget was allocated among the four countries, with Nigeria contributing €40 million, and Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger each investing €20 million.
Nigeria was chosen as the regional launch site due to its productivity and potential to significantly impact the Soil Values programme, as stated by Fofana. The Senior Technical Adviser of IFDC, Prem Bindraban, discussed plans to offer training to farmers to improve their agricultural practices and support institutional investments and the effective implementation of larger programs, such as those financed by the World Bank.
The Country Director of IFDC, Yusuf Ramani, emphasised the initiative’s focus on Nigeria’s northern regions and the importance of addressing gaps in the agricultural sector to align with the government’s objective of improving food security nationwide. Ramani stated, “The Northern parts of the country are targeted for this initiative. The gaps in the agricultural sector should be addressed to ensure that whatever is implemented is in line with the government’s agenda in improving food insecurity in the country.”
