The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND)
25, Jimmy Carter Crescent, Asokoro Abuja.
Contact: Chichi Nnoham-Onyejekwe, Knowledge & Communications Manager
08172064628
November 30, 2020, Zoom: As Nigeria, and by extension the Niger Delta, face the disruptions in the economy resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that is projected to exacerbate an already challenging situation of food security, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development launched the ‘Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services Activity’ in the Niger Delta (Specifically in Cross River and Delta States).
Through a virtual ceremony held on November 30, 2020, the launch had in attendance representatives from the funding organizations, federal and state governments, state ministries, international development agencies, project implementing partners, key market actors, and enterprises.
The five (5) year Activity aims to partner with small and medium enterprises and key market actors to pilot and scale proven and successful technologies, and promote the adoption of improved production practices and extension service delivery and practices for two million smallholder producers in Nigeria with a focus in pilot states including Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger states.
Funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), it promotes a lean suite of simplified, replicable, and affordable solutions, products, extension, and other services that address inefficiencies in the practices of most farmers in target value chains, particularly maize, cowpea, soy, rice and aquaculture for target Niger Delta states; Cross River State and Delta State.
Phil Broughton, the Senior Director of Winrock International, the lead implementing partner, in his welcome remarks gave an overview of the Activity, its objectives, and the expected outcomes of the 5-year activity. Highlighting the need to address the complex challenges of food security in Nigeria, he stated his optimism for the successful implementation of the program.
“With partners like PIND Foundation and others who are contributing vital knowledge and experience to this Activity, I am confident of its successful implementation and look forward to the success stories of the impact it will have created in the next 5-years.” Broughton said.
Following welcome remarks by Phil Broughton, the Executive Director of The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Dara Akala during his welcome address, gave a background of PIND’s achievements in the agricultural value chain during the Foundation’s recently concluded 5-year strategic phase (2015-2019).
“In the last 5 years, our market-based solutions have established viable & mutually-beneficial relationships with key market actors & stakeholders in target agricultural value chains; reached 621,397 farmers & enterprises with information on best farming and business practices, with 361,149 experiencing increased yield and productivity and facilitated the creation of 45,849 jobs for the agricultural sectors where we work” Dara Akala noted.
Akala also highlighted the historical overview of PIND’s partnership with USAID since 2011 to increase agriculture-related incomes, increase agro-enterprise linkages & increase participation in commercial agricultural markets by the very poor in the Niger Delta through the ‘Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprises in Targeted Sites II’ (MARKETS II) project that was implemented in the region from 2012 – 2017.
“At PIND Foundation, our overarching strategy is built on the belief that no single organization alone can solve the complex & interconnected development challenges in the Niger Delta region and that innovations can be the key drivers of economic and social development” Akala emphasized.
Akala added that “We are hopeful that with the collective expertise and capabilities within these strong partnerships, the overall project target to reach at least two million, smallholder farmers, across the project States (Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger) with proven technologies, scale-up successful ones, and promote the adoption of improved production practices, agro-inputs through improved and sustainable service delivery will be actualized.”
Concluding with a call to action, Akala called on “everyone to keep our shared goal in view always, sharing our resources and knowledge without fail so that, come 2025, we will all share in the success as our smallholder farmers beat poverty and live a more deserving prosperous life.”
The Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa highlighted the commonality between the project’s target agricultural sectors and that of the State’s priority sectors of cassava, aquaculture & maize. He pledged his commitment to work with USAID and PIND to address the challenges of food security.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa thanked USAID & PIND for all they have done in Delta State, adding that he is pleased to note that PIND & USAID are two reputable organizations known for implementing successful models for agricultural interventions.
In closing, the Executive Governor declared the Activity as launched and stated his full support for its implementation especially in Delta State.
