By Abbas Nazil
In a strategic move aimed at boosting food security and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, Nestlé Nigeria has committed over \$1 million to a three-year project focused on promoting regenerative agriculture practices.
This significant investment was unveiled in Zaria, Kaduna State, during the launch of a collaborative Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative spearheaded by AGRA, Nestlé, and TechnoServe.
The initiative, which runs from June 2024 to October 2027, is set to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators in Kaduna and Nasarawa States.
It aims to promote sustainable production of staple grains including maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum.
The project, known as the Structured Markets (StreFaS) Initiative, is expected to enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change, improve yields, and facilitate access to structured markets for their produce.
Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing and reducing carbon emissions across its value chain.
He emphasized that Nestlé’s vision globally is to source at least 50% of its key ingredients from farmers engaged in regenerative agriculture by 2030.
“With an investment of \$1 million in the project over the next three years, we aim to contribute towards establishing regenerative agriculture as the standard in the food industry, addressing both environmental and social priorities holistically,” Elhusseini stated.
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Regenerative agriculture, which emphasizes improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration, is at the core of this initiative.
It also incorporates climate-smart practices, empowering smallholder farmers with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to thrive despite the challenges posed by climate change.
Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, described the project as a transformative step for the country’s agricultural sector.
She noted that the initiative goes beyond increasing yields, focusing instead on regenerating soils, restoring the dignity of farmers, and building inclusive and sustainable rural communities.
Similarly, AGRA Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Rufus Idris, emphasized the initiative’s farmer-centric approach.
“We are proud to co-lead this initiative that puts farmers first—not just by introducing new practices, but by rebuilding the very ecosystems that sustain farming,” he said.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Muhammad Dabo, lauded the partnership for advancing climate-smart practices in the state, calling the project a milestone in the journey toward a sustainable agricultural future.
Echoing the impact of the project, a local farmer, Lawan Abdul, testified that after adopting the climate-smart strategies introduced through the initiative, his crop yields have doubled.
His experience underscores the immediate benefits of such interventions in transforming the lives and livelihoods of rural farmers.
With strong institutional backing, financial commitment, and grassroots support, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative signals a promising new chapter for Nigeria’s food system, anchoring resilience, sustainability, and growth in the country’s agricultural sector.
