AGRA, NESTLÉ, AND TECHNOSERVE LAUNCH GROUNDBREAKING CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE IN NIGERIA

...Sustainable farming and market access at the heart of new partnership to transform agriculture

L-R: Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria and Mr. Alidu Amadu, Head of Agricultural Services, Central West Africa, Nestle at the launch of the Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Zaria, recently.

In a bold step towards building a climate-resilient agricultural sector, AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe have launched the Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate-Smart Grain Production and Accessing Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Nigeria.

StreFaS is a three-year program funded by AGRA and Nestlé, running from June 2024 to October 2027. The initiative aims to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators across Kaduna and Nasarawa States by promoting sustainable production of maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum. It focuses on integrating regenerative agriculture throughout the value chain, with particular emphasis on empowering youth and women.

The initiative will enhance soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase biodiversity, and strengthen farmers' economic resilience. Furthermore, it connects smallholder farmers to formal markets, including Nestlé’s supply chain, enabling them to earn premium prices for climate-smart produce.

The launch event, held in Zaria, Kaduna State, brought together high-level representatives from the government, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and members of the media. Highlights included keynote speeches from implementing partners, a case study from a climate-smart farmer, and a comprehensive overview of the project’s role in transforming Nigeria’s grain value chains.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, described the StreFaS initiative as a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

 L-R: Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Alhaji Mohammed Rili, GM, Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, Mr. Alidu Amadu, Head of Agricultural Services, Central West Africa, Mr Bege Dutse Bungwon, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria, at the launch of the Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Zaria, recently.

“This project represents a bold commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with the tools, knowledge, and market access they need to thrive in the face of climate change. StreFaS is not just about boosting yields—it’s about regenerating our soils, restoring dignity to farming, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across Kaduna and Nasarawa States,” she said.

Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria, stated: “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, which is core to AGRA’s approach to sustainable and resilient food systems transformation.”

Speaking on Nestlé’s commitment, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, added: “At Nestlé, we believe that good food starts with high-quality ingredients and the well-being of the people who produce them. Our partnership in this initiative underscores our commitment to sustainable sourcing and decarbonizing our value chain. Globally, we aim to source at least 50% of our key ingredients from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture by 2030. With an investment of over $1,000,000 in this project over the next three years, we aim to help establish regenerative agriculture as the industry standard, addressing both environmental and social priorities holistically.”

Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Murtala Muhammad Dabo, Commissioner for Agriculture, Kaduna State, remarked: “This launch marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable agricultural future. I commend TechnoServe and its partners for their dedication to promoting climate-smart agricultural practices in Kaduna State. Let us continue working together to empower farmers, improve food security, and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector. I wish you all the best in this endeavor.”

On the sidelines of the launch, MAGGI celebrated the soybean farmers who participated in the regenerative agriculture pilot project. One of them, Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared a compelling testimonial: “Since I started adopting the strategies we were taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100%. This was very surprising and encouraging for me. I am very happy with the outcome and thank the project partners and MAGGI for bringing this opportunity to us.”

The StreFaS initiative aligns with AGRA’s Country Strategy 3.0, Nestlé’s 2030 climate resilience sourcing goals, and TechnoServe’s proven expertise in building market-driven solutions for rural prosperity.

By connecting smallholder farmers to better tools, markets, and capital, StreFaS will scale regenerative agriculture in ways that are both profitable and empowering. As implementation progresses, the program will deepen collaboration with government, private sector, and civil society partners to sustain scalable change across Nigeria’s grain value chains.