KEY POINTS
- Nigeria, EU and Germany launch €18.3m agricultural project.
- Targets cocoa, dairy, tomatoes, ginger value chains.
- Runs Oct. 2024–Sept. 2028 across seven states.
Nigeria has officially launched a four-year, €18.3 million agricultural transformation programme with support from the European Union and the German government, aimed at boosting food security, job creation and climate-smart farming.
Focus on cocoa, dairy, tomatoes and ginger
The EU-VACE TARED initiative Agriculture Value Chain Facility Transformative Agricultural Systems for Rural Economic Development will run from October 2024 to September 2028. It targets four key agricultural value chains: cocoa, dairy, tomatoes and ginger.
Seven states Cross River, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ondo, Oyo and Plateau will serve as implementation hubs. The project is managed by Germany’s GIZ, working alongside Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Alignment with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda
Minister of State for Agriculture Aliyu Abdullahi said the programme supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, covering food security, poverty eradication, job creation and financial access.
“This project provides us with a unique opportunity to address post-harvest losses, climate shocks, and limited financing. It will enhance coordination, promote value addition, and protect both farmers and consumers,” Abdullahi said.
Furthermore he announced a steering committee to monitor delivery and ensure transparency.
Cutting dairy imports, boosting local value
Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha said the project is particularly important for Nigeria’s dairy sector, which costs the country $1.5 billion annually in imports.
“Together we can change the narrative by creating local industries, employing people, and further building peace across the land,” he said.
EU and Germany pledge long-term support
EU Ambassador to Nigeria Gautier Mignot called the initiative part of the bloc’s Global Gateway strategy and Team Europe agenda.
“Our goal is clear: to foster inclusive, climate-smart and commercially viable agriculture that creates jobs, especially for youth and women, while nurturing a new generation of agripreneurs,” he said.
Mignot noted that the EU is investing more than €87m in agricultural and climate programmes in Nigeria, with a €1.5bn pipeline of green economy projects under Team Europe.
German Deputy Head of Mission Johannes Lehne described the project as a “strategic investment” in Nigeria’s agricultural future, while GIZ’s Oladoyin Olawaiye stressed its broader social impact in creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
Driving inclusive growth
The EU-VACE TARED project is also expected to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs, expand access to finance and international markets, promote climate-smart practices, and create work opportunities for women and marginalised groups.
Officials further said the programme will help transform agriculture into a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.
