The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving private sector investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, with plans to channel £204 million into agribusiness initiatives.
Adiya Ode, the Country Representative for Propcom+, a UK-funded climate-resilient agricultural market development program, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina. She highlighted that Propcom+ is an eight-year initiative designed to foster economic growth for smallholder farmers and SMEs, particularly in conflict- and climate-affected regions. “We are focused on strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs against climate change, enhancing productivity, and increasing incomes while promoting sustainable agricultural practices,” she stated.
Running from 2023 to 2030, Propcom+ is structured to support climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, contributing to economic development while stopping environmental and social challenges within Nigeria’s food and land-use system.
The program aims to enhance agricultural productivity and food security, improve nutrition and resilience to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable land-use practices and also address the underlying factors contributing to conflict and insecurity in rural markets
Propcom+ operates as a market facilitator, identifying systemic challenges and implementing solutions to create more inclusive and climate-resilient rural economies. The initiative targets 3.79 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians, with a focus on ensuring that at least 50% of beneficiaries are women.
Additionally, over four million people are expected to adopt sustainable agricultural practices under the program, with £95 million allocated to its direct implementation. Currently, Propcom+ is active in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, and Adamawa, with Katsina recently approved as a new beneficiary state.
The program specifically addresses three major challenges; low agricultural productivity, resource-related conflicts and the adverse effects of climate change.
By boosting smallholder farmers’ and SMEs’ incomes, the initiative seeks to reduce poverty and drive long-term economic transformation in Nigeria’s rural communities.
