Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have begun a three-day workshop to review IFAD’s agricultural intervention program and develop a new strategy for 2024-2029.
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The workshop began in Sokoto on Tuesday with participants drawn from states in the North West running the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) intervention projects since 2016.
The review of the programs was to find solutions to challenges encountered and further empower smallholder farmers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is tagged ”IFAD’s Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) Design Regional Technical Consultations Workshop for 2024-2029.”
The Facilitator, Mrs. Saudatu Is’mail, said that the review of the Federal Government/IFAD interventions through COSOP 2016-2023, was to x-ray how the program impacted the rural economy in the six states.
According to her, the 2016 – 2023 program gave opportunities for participating states to undertake viable agricultural programs that were profitable for farming communities and the country.
”The event is targeted at scrutinizing the previous project performance, reviewing challenges, and formulating ways to strengthen the upcoming documents envisaged for 2024-2029.
“The strategic objective is to enhance smallholder farmer, productivity, profitability, and access to the market.
“To foster the economic empowerment of rural youth, women, and People Living with Disabilities along agricultural value chains, among others,” Isma’il said.
She pointed out that participants were from IFAD project states in the northwest, with different land and other climatic conditions affecting farming activities.
Malam Muhammadu Saida, the Chairman of, the Community Development Association, Tambuwal LGA Sokoto State, said farmers have been educated on various farming schemes and modalities which facilitated robust development and success of the programs.
Saida said farmers’ capacities were also enhanced, and linked with uptakers of their commodities who possessed business potentials for exports and other commercial purposes.
He further explained that women and youths were engaged in farming activities using support schemes.
According to him, they obtained a new variety of millet which is in circulation, and other drought-resistant species of crops along with other farming support.
He appealed for the timely release of the support packages to farmers according to cropping stages.
Saada called for use of Information and Communication Technology and other modern tools to enhance farming activities and information.
He urged the participants to come out with workable solutions to ensure a more impacting COSOP for 2024-2029.
The Permanent Secretary, of Sokoto State Ministry for Local Government, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu-DogonDaji, who is also a former IFAD Programme Coordinator, said the state achieved a lot in different aspects and people immensely benefited.
Two permanent secretaries from the Sokoto state ministry of Environment and water resources, Alhaji Ma’azu Suka and Alhaji Mu’azu Garba, respectively, suggested the inclusion of water supply, tree planting, and erosion control into the program.
NAN reports that the Project Coordinators in Katsina and Kebbi, Alhaji Musa Hassan and Bala Muhammad, presented the project’s achievements in their respective states.
The event highlighted insecurity, climate change, and access to finance as some of the challenges confronting farmers.
