Multi State Agricultural Development Project

Multi State Agricultural Development Project

Population pressure is reducing soil fertility in the humid and sub-humid zones, primarily because the land is cultivated intensively instead of being allowed to lie fallow for periods of time. The project covered seven southern and middle-belt states–Anambra, Bendel, Benue , Cross-River, Imo, Ogun and Plateau–across an area stretching from the coast to the highland of Plateau state. Most households in the target area have very small landholdings, on average just 1 ha. They depend on traditional crops such as cassava, yam, maize, plantain and millet. Infrastructure is inadequate, and lack of access roads makes linkage to markets difficult. Only 10 per cent of the rural population in each state has access to piped water supplies, which only function intermittently.

The main objective of the project was to develop the productivity of food crops for small-scale farmers, especially women, in Nigeria ’s southern states and raise their incomes and standards of living. The project introduced technological innovations to boost productivity, including the provision of planting material, and reorganization of extension services. The project also used the results of the IFAD-funded Tuber and Root Improvement Programme, which has developed cassava pest control techniques, in order to introduce improvements in cassava production. Research staff worked closely with farmers to address the constraints experienced by smallholder farmers. Other project activities included:

• upgrading the road network and water supplies to benefit rural households
• strengthening federal and state agencies responsible for agriculture

Source: IFAD