The United States Agency for International Development Rural Resilience Activity implemented by Mercy Corps has facilitated over 97 million dollars from private sector players as investments and trade within the agriculture value chains of Northeast Nigeria, positively impacting more than 770,000 individuals.
This was achieved by building the capacity of small-scale farmers, and businesses, increasing access to finance and quality inputs, strengthening market linkages, and promoting the adoption of climate smart practices.
As a direct result of this activity, several farmers have doubled their productivity and tripled their household income, supported firms have created over 20,000 jobs in the Northeast.
The team lead of feed the Future USAID Nigeria Jazmian Ohanyere, in an address she delivered at the Rural Resilience Activity’s Partnership Event themed “fostering economic Resilience in the North East: A Path to Sustainable Growth” held at the International Conference Centre Gombe State, said a small amount of support from USAID has unlocked business potential for local companies.
Ohanyere said, “With assistance from the Rural Resilience Activity, agritech company agriarche limited, expanded its operations from northwest and southern nigeria to the northeastern States to reach almost 13,500 smallholder farmers with quality extension services and inputs. Agriarche Limited bought over 15,000 MT of these commodities produced, valued at 3 billion naira, an amount plowed into the Northeast economy and the farmers’ pockets.”
Another company, the team lead said ,is Halilco, which produces ready-to-use supplementary foods from locally sourced raw materials explaining that the company was not previously operating in Northeast Nigeria but through activities implemented under the Rural Resilience Activity, halilco recognized the untapped market in the region and expanded its operations.
She said Halilco has employed over 1,000 people, lifting women, youths, and people with disabilities out of poverty while nourishing households by seling nutrient-dense products.
“Today’s Partnership Day event represents another crucial step to attract more businesses into the Northeast and facilitate partnerships through open dialogues, knowledge sharing, and relationship-building. At USAID, our commitment to building resilient communities, businesses, institutions, and households remains unwavering. USAID acknowledges the diligent efforts of the Rural Resilience Activity and its partners in fostering economic recovery and growth in North-East Nigeria,” Ohanyere added.
The Gombe State Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau said the meeting is necessary and inevitable on account of the fact that Mercy Corps activities have touched and changed people lives positively based on its principles, aims and objectives of improving the lots of mankind.
“The North East Sub Region is blessed with large livestock, cows, goats, sheep, etc. The problem however has been that this is still at the rudimentary stage, with little modernization of animal husbandry, cross breading technology, diary and beef processing, preservation, packaging, storage, and finally marketing for the socio-economic benefits to the individuals, society and the nation at large. With time the sub-region will embark on massive exportation, which is the only activity known to me that impact positively on the exchange rate of the Naira to foreign currencies,” Manassah added.
The Deputy Governor noted that Mercy Corps among the numerous humanitarian pursuits in the past are adding with the collaboration, partnership with other world reknown development partners to reverse the undesirable situation it has found itself.
“It is of great interest to know that apart from the issue of control of disease by effective veterinary services, greater production and management of animals (cattle), provision of fodder, feed supplement, water supply, animal health, there are other chain effects of putting together in one place” The Deputy said.
He appreciated Mercy Corps interventions in the North East which has made positive impact in the lives of many in the northeast Nigeria.
In an interview the Country Director of Mercy Corps Mr Ndubusi Anyawu, said the Partnership Event is to change the narrative of the North-East to be a place where people can invest.
He said Mercy Corps is a global organisation and has been in Nigeria for ten years and Rural Resilience Activity is about agriculture being the backbone of Nigeria’s economic.
The COR Feed the Future Nigeria Resilience Activity Hafsat Grema said the event is to also show case products of beneficiaries for government and stakeholders to see and work towards sustainability.
Some Vendors who spoke to Periscope Nigeria to include Amdo Mela Yauyalam of cozance company, Zainab Tijjani Ibrahim from Yobe State, Fahad Mohammed said Rural Resilience Activity has supported in rebranding and expanding their business.This they said has attracted many customers within and outside their location.
