The National Coordinator of the Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP) Dr Fatima Aliyu has revealed that over 128,000 out of 150,000 profiled farmers are currently receiving weather updates from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NimeT, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their farming activities.

Dr Aliyu stated this during the VCDP 12th Supervision Mission in Minna Niger State, where she said the partnership has greatly impacted farmers in the nine participating states, with each farmer accessing daily weather information to mitigate losses due to climate change.

She explained that the programme is yielding results, with rice yields averaging 5 metric tons per hectare during the wet season and over 6.5 metric tons during the dry season.

This, she said, exceeds the national average with cassava yields now increased to 36-40 metric tons per hectare.

She noted that VCDP’s comprehensive approach, which include training farmers on mechanization, agro-fabrication, and agro-production, as well as providing support for processing and packaging products has impacted positively in the lives of farmers, including women, youths.and people with special needs.

The programme’s focus on nutrition is also noteworthy, promoting Vitamin A cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to improve the nutritional status of farmers.

“With such promising results, the Niger State government plans to adopt and scale up the VCDP model across all 25 local government areas at the end of the programme in 2026,” Dr. Aliyu stated.

Dr Aliyu also highlighted the programme’s flagship project in Niger State, which is set to benefit from a $3.5 million grant for the Agricultural Smallholder Adaptation Project (ASAP) which will support 24,000 smallholder farmers, including 19,000 in Niger State, in adapting to climate change and improving their livelihoods.

Also, the Country Director International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Dr Dede Ekoue, explained that what the programme has so far achieved where about 25,000 farmers and agro processors are being supported,is going to be leveraged on to invest more money in Nigeria.

She described the state Government’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, as key to the success of IFAD VCDP in Niger State adding, ” the ripple effects of the programme’s achievements in Niger State goes beyond Africa”.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Mathew Ahmed, had announced plans to integrate staff and farmers under the VCDP into the Niger State Agricultural Transformation Office (NiSATO) once the programme concludes in 2026.

Dr Ahmed revealed that the state government intends to adopt the VCDP model across all 25 local government areas, and ensuring continuity and sustainability of the programme’s achievements

Some of the rice and cassava farmers in Bida area speaking with reporter during the 12th supervision mission visit by IFAD-VCDP team described partnership with NimeT as a good development for farmers in the state.

According to Fatima Jibrin and Ibrahim Alhaji Saidu,” We are ready to pay for weather updates even after the closure of VCDP.. The updates have really impacted positively in our farming businesses. Getting the messages has helped us to know what to do and what not to do as regarding our activities in our localities in the state”.

Farmers now receive weather updates to optimize production – VCDP Coordinator, Dr Aliyu