The African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA/NEPAD) have launched a training programme for 3,000 smallholder farmers in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
The initiative was officially inaugurated in Calabar, the state capital, by Governor Bassey Otu, who flagged off the programme for selected smallholder farmers from the seven local government areas of the southern senatorial district.
Representing the governor, Dr. Michael Abuo, the State Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD, explained that the project, titled the “Innovative Strengthening of Smallholder Farmers Initiative,” aims to enhance the economic well-being of the farmers.
“This is a five-year project targeting 3,000 farmers in crop cultivation and livestock production, with 1,000 farmers selected from each senatorial district. Additionally, the Cross River State government has committed 3.5 billion Naira in counterpart funding for the initiative, which will help boost productivity even among subsistence farmers,” Dr. Abuo said.
The farmers will receive training in digital agriculture, climate-smart farming, financial inclusion, agricultural insurance, irrigation, and water management, among other best practices.
Professor Susan Ohen, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Wildlife Resources Management at the University of Calabar, stressed the importance of empowering subsistence farmers to boost local economies. Speaking on “Enhancing Agricultural Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Cross River State,” she emphasised that smallholder farmers are key drivers of food security and revenue generation in the region.
“The local economy depends on smallholder farmers. We must be intentional in supporting them to elevate the economy,” Professor Ohen said, urging the beneficiaries to embrace agricultural innovations and best practices.
Jabiru Abdullahi, National Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD, highlighted that the training programme is designed to improve yields among subsistence farmers. He encouraged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained and the grants provided to increase production, noting that the success of the first phase will inform future interventions.
