Nestlé Nigeria has announced a $1 million investment over the next three years to support regenerative agriculture as part of a wider climate-smart farming initiative launched in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The initiative, developed in partnership with AGRA and TechnoServe, aims to improve sustainable farming practices and resilience among smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch, Nestlé Nigeria CEO Wassim Elhusseini said the company is committed to sustainable sourcing and reducing its environmental footprint.
“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 decarbonising our value chain,” he said.
Elhusseini noted that the company is working toward a global goal to source at least 50 per cent of its key ingredients from farmers practising regenerative agriculture by 2030.
“With an investment of over $1,000,000 in this 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,” he said.
The Climate-Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative, launched alongside the funding announcement, is designed to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators in Kaduna and Nasarawa States.
The programme, which runs from June 2024 to October 2027, targets the sustainable production of maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum.
TechnoServe Nigeria Country Director Adesuwa Akinboro described the initiative as a strategic effort to equip farmers and agricultural businesses with tools and market access.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Rufus Idris, said the initiative reflects AGRA’s commitment to strengthening food systems.
“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—core to AGRA’s approach to sustainable and resilient food systems transformation,” he said.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Muhammad Dabo, acknowledged the collaborative effort. He stated that the launch was a key step towards a more sustainable future for agriculture in the state and praised TechnoServe and their collaborators for their commitment to climate-smart farming methods.
Dabo also called for an ongoing partnership to develop an agricultural sector capable of withstanding climate challenges.
One of the participating farmers, Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared a personal experience, stating that his yield doubled after adopting new strategies introduced through the project.
“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,” he said.
