US invests $24m to boost local enterprises, farming in Nigeria

Small business owners and farmers in Nigeria would soon benefit from a grant to be disbursed by the United States.
The pool of fund from the United States African Development Foundation (USAD), which it has invested a total of $24m million in grants to various cooperative societies to boost the growth of local enterprises and rural farming in Nigeria in the last few years.
The Executive Director of Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI) and implementing partner for USADF projects, Mr Adamu Garba disclosed this at a conference and Mini Agriculture Fair
in Abuja.
“USADF has invested over $24 million in these cooperatives societies over the years. They are still working in Nigeria and we look forward to getting more assistance from them,” Garba said.
According to him, the purpose of the fair was to showcase the agricultural products from the cooperative societies all around Nigeria whose projects were funded by USADF and managed by DDI.
On food security in Nigeria, Garba said, “If we make concerted efforts in improving agriculture and backing our words with action production will increase.”
Stating further, he said over 450,000 people have benefited from the USADF projects in Africa from which 60 per cent are women.
“About 70 per cent of USADF programmes in Nigeria is developing the agriculture value chain
to create impact in improving the livelihood of the rural people, he noted.
“I know Danladi Sidi, a rice farmer in Kano State whose yield has tripled because he has adopted improved agronomy practices and followed the technical assistance that has been provided,” Garba noted.
In his own comment, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. W. Stuart Symington aplauded the interventions and commended the local farmers who are taking advantage of the scheme.
“It is a great honour of my time in Nigeria to hear of that transformation work that you are doing so much,” he said.
President/CEO of USADF, Mr. C.D. Glin, also praised DDI, the rural entrepreneurs, farmers
in Nigeria and other stakeholders.
According to him, the organisation has worked in parts of Nigeria including Kano, Lagos and the Niger Delta.
“Everything we do here is led by Nigerians. We have commitment to Agriculture.
We strongly believe that one of the key drivers for Africa’s success, for Nigeria’s success will
be in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Also at the event, Chairman, Board of Directors of USADF, Jack Leslie said the United States was funding development projects in Africa because the success of Africa is important for his country.
“I know we are seen as helping you to do the things that you do in the communities
but your success is our success; your success is very important to the US,” he said.