89 points recognized in draft manuals for Nigeria’s $500m agricultural undertaking

The Federal Director, Department of Development Partners Projects, Dr Emmanuel Akogun, disclosed this on Monday in Minna through the undertaking’s first implementation assist mission and stakeholder session hosted by the Niger State authorities.

Akogun mentioned the problems have been recognized within the draft Project Implementation Manual and the Agricultural Development Matching Grant Facility Operations Manual and grouped into six main areas.

According to him, they embody the move of funds for matching grants, governance of the matching grant facility, provisions of sub-grant and state agreements, eligibility standards, outcomes verification, and environmental and social dangers and grievances.

The World Bank’s Lead Agricultural Economist and Task Team Leader for AGROW, Mr Hardwick Tchale mentioned the financial institution’s Board permitted the undertaking in March 2026, however the mandatory implementation preparations have been nonetheless being put in place.

He defined that the primary implementation assist mission was assessing the readiness of federal and state-level establishments accountable for delivering the undertaking.

Tchale acknowledged that the $500 million undertaking would assist smallholder farmers to enhance productiveness and join with structured markets by off-takers.

“AGROW will help targeted farmers move from farming as a livelihood to farming as a business, a source of improved income and a source of decent jobs,” he mentioned.

The undertaking will use a performance-based matching grant facility to assist investments in main manufacturing, aggregation, processing and worth addition.

According to him, “its initial priority commodities are rice, maize, soybeans and cassava, while participating states may identify other commodities based on their priorities and market opportunities”.

Tchale mentioned the undertaking would additionally assist improved crop varieties, digital farmer registries, climate info and digital soil advisory companies to information farmers’ manufacturing selections.

He disclosed that the variety of states to take part had not been decided, including that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would determine in collaboration with state governments.

The National Project Coordinator of AGROW, Engr Ibrahim Alkali, mentioned the implementation manuals should present clear procedures for farmers, agribusinesses and implementing establishments, together with eligibility necessities, utility processes and entry to the matching grant facility.

The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ahmed Mathew, mentioned the state had submitted its readiness to take part by the National Project Coordinator, citing its agricultural potential.

The consultant of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anthonia Udo, urged implementing establishments and state governments to make sure transparency, accountability and prudent administration of undertaking funds, whereas assembly the monetary and institutional necessities for implementation.