Youth unemployment is one of the most significant development challenges facing governments and development partners in Nigeria today. The country suffers from a “labor market trifecta” of jobless growth, an expanding population, and unemployable youth. Despite decades of reasonably steady economic growth, the Nigerian economy has not generated the jobs required to sustain its large…
’I am Dr. Nnnena Chikezie, the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary of Abia State Planning Commission. Our collaboration with PIND in developing the Abia State long term plan was very demanding. It was equally a learning process and it gave us confidence that we were dealing with an organization that has strong technical strength to deliver. Even with the COVID-19, PIND kept pushing on, encouraging the State to go with the project. PIND gave us a project manager that would not stop until he got the target achieved. We had to adapt to the new normal and because there was every need to deliver the project on PIND’s part, they supported us in every way.
“The broodstock development program has contributed so much to our growth and we are getting good feedback from our clients. I must thank PIND for this program”
‘’The entire team collectively prepared the proposal documents, following the grant writing standards taught during the mentorship. This helped us meet the donor project’s requirements as SEYP received a grant of EUR 45,000 from the Embassy. After that, we secured another grant of EUR 300,000 from the European Union (EU)/IOM, and the strength of staff has increased to 17 permanent staff,’’ explained the Chief Executive, Jennifer Ero.
Smallholder farmers and MSMEs in the Niger Delta encounter difficulty getting funds from financial institutions because of several factors. These factors include inappropriate financial products for the agricultural value chains; perceived low productivity and competitiveness in financing the sectors; and the perceived risk associated with agricultural financing.
PIND’s approach to improving access to funds for smallholder farmers and MSMEs entails developing new, inclusive financial models built around the peculiarities of the agricultural and agro-allied sectors. To qualify for the funds and loans from commercial banks, MFBs, and equity investors, we encouraged a crop of BSPs (business service providers) to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs.
Our business linkages project assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region to become more competitive, productive, and diversified in their markets. They will reap higher income (through increased sales and profits) and create new jobs for people (through access to quality business support services, markets, and funding).
Our poultry-value-chain project is working to help poultry farmers and processors increase their productivity, sales, and income while generating new jobs by adopting good poultry farming and business practices—as well as access to extension services, quality inputs, funding, and markets.
Our palm oil-value-chain project helps smallholder palm oil farmers and processors increase their sales through the increased quantity and quality of their outputs. They earn more income; create new jobs by adopting best management practices; and access improved processing and harvesting technology, improved seedlings, funding, and market linkages.
Our cocoa-value-chain project helps cocoa farmers and processors increase their production quality and quantity, their sales and income, and the number of new jobs in the sector. These farmers and processors accomplish this through good cocoa agricultural practices, access to extension services, improved technologies, quality seedlings, and enhanced market relationships.
Our cassava-value-chain project enables smallholder cassava farmers and processors to increase their yield, earn more income and employ more persons. This is achieved through the adoption of good farming and business practices; access to quality inputs and extension services; and improved cassava processing technology, funding, and new markets.