The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) in Nasarawa State recently received a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a partnership visit aimed at strengthening agricultural development and farmer support across the state.
The visiting team was led by Abdullahi Ari of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), who explained that the visit was inspired by the remarkable achievements recorded by the Nasarawa ACReSAL Project, particularly in the area of empowering farmers and strengthening agricultural livelihoods across communities in the state.
Speaking during the meeting, the JICA Team Lead, Tobi Jeremiah, disclosed that the agency is preparing to commence a new agricultural support project in the country. He noted that a preparatory survey is currently underway, making collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government and the ACReSAL Project both timely and strategic.
According to him, the JICA initiative seeks to provide financial support and capacity building opportunities for farmers, enabling them to expand farming activities and improve productivity in response to the evolving agricultural landscape in both Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.
The delegation also expressed interest in leveraging the comprehensive farmers’ database being developed through ACReSAL’s Community Revolving Fund (CRF) activities, which is expected to serve as a reliable platform for identifying and supporting farmers across the state.
In his remarks, the Nasarawa ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Elias Gyobe Napoleon PhD, provided a detailed overview of the project’s milestones since its inception, highlighting ongoing interventions designed to enhance climate resilience, strengthen agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods in rural communities.
Also speaking, Naoyoshi Kawano, Agricultural and Farm Management Specialist with the JICA team, commended the ACReSAL Project for its data-driven approach and impactful interventions, describing it as a solid foundation for sustainable agricultural development in the state.
He noted that the availability of reliable and updated agricultural data positions ACReSAL as a critical partner in driving inclusive agricultural growth and expressed optimism about future engagements and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing agricultural development in Nasarawa State.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation and exploring innovative solutions that will empower farmers, boost food production and support sustainable agricultural transformation in the state.
Communications
NS-ACReSAL
