Five million farmers benefit from U.S., Nigeria agric partnership

The government of the United States of America has supported more than five million Nigerian farmers in its multi-faceted agricultural partnership programmes with Nigeria since 2019 through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a statement, yesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria disclosed that the partnership had helped strengthen Nigeria’s food security by increasing food production and bolstering rural economies nationwide.

It noted that media coverage of its activities painted an inaccurate picture of U.S. agricultural initiatives in Nigeria, which included assisting local agencies in strengthening regulatory processes for agricultural biotechnology.

The embassy said the longstanding agricultural partnership with Nigeria culminated in significant achievements and ensured that all U.S. government’s agricultural programmes operated with full transparency and strict adherence to Nigerian laws.

“These programmes are developed and implemented in partnership with Nigerian agricultural experts, farmers and government officials, to ensure they meet local needs and respect Nigeria’s agricultural sovereignty.

“USAID’s work in Nigeria focuses on practical support for farmers, including improved access to markets, agricultural training and research collaboration. Our agricultural partnership represents a shared commitment to addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges through locally-driven solutions,” the embassy indicated in the statement.

According to the U.S. government, USAID maintains regular dialogue with Nigerian stakeholders in agriculture at all levels and is proud to support Nigerian farmers while respecting local agricultural traditions and practices.

It added, “As we continue this partnership, we remain committed to full transparency and meaningful consultation with Nigerian agricultural communities.”