The United Kingdom (UK) has pledged £204 million in private sector finance and investment to support agricultural growth in Nigeria, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced.
Mrs. Adiya Ode, Country Representative for Propcom+, a UK-funded climate-resilient agricultural market development programme, disclosed this on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina.
She explained that Propcom+ is an eight-year initiative (2023–2030) designed to strengthen economic growth for smallholder farmers and SMEs in conflict- and climate-affected regions.
“We aim to improve smallholders’ and entrepreneurs’ resilience to climate change while increasing productivity, boosting incomes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving natural ecosystems,” Ode said.
According to her, the programme will enhance Nigeria’s rural economy by tackling environmental, social, and economic challenges in the country’s food and land-use system.
Key objectives include increasing agricultural productivity, improving nutrition and food security, enhancing climate resilience, reducing emissions, and protecting nature. It also seeks to address underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity while promoting sustainable, pro-poor, climate-resilient growth.
“Propcom+ aims to improve the incomes and climate resilience of 3.79 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians, with 50% being women. Over four million people are expected to adopt sustainable agricultural practices under the programme,” she added.
She noted that while £95 million has been earmarked for the programme, Propcom+ is already active in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, and Adamawa, with Katsina recently approved as a new beneficiary.
Ode revealed that the expansion followed discussions between Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and the FCDO on the programme’s implementation.
“We had productive meetings with farmers, business leaders, processors, academics, women’s groups, and cooperatives, who support the programme’s launch in Katsina. Further discussions with government officials will help identify challenges and solutions,” she said.
She emphasized that Propcom+ aims to tackle three critical issues: low agricultural productivity, resource conflicts, and climate change effects, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction for smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
