This programme will be implemented in the seven states of Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara, which constitute the Savannah Belt of Nigeria. The goals of the programme include reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, accelerating sustainable economic growth and reducing vulnerability for smallholder farmers, particularly women and young people.

The main components of the programme include:

• Sensitization and training in productivity enhancement and climate resilience
• Enterprise development for women and youth who have demonstrated an interest engaging in agriculture or related activities
• Institutional development and support for farmers' organizations or producer groups, community development associations and financial services associations.

The target group comprises moderately poor and core poor households, which represent over 90 per cent of the population of the participating states. The core poor are characterized by low disposable income, little capital to invest in agriculture, food insecurity, vulnerability to climate change and farms of less than two hectares. The moderately poor share most of these characteristics but have moderate disposable income, cultivated land of over 2 hectares and produce to sell.

Source: IFAD