In a groundbreaking move, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has pledged to channel £204 million in private sector finance and investment into Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This ambitious initiative, part of the UK-funded Propcom+ programme, aims to transform rural economies, boost climate resilience, and improve food security across conflict- and climate-affected regions in the country.
The announcement came from Mrs. Adiya Ode, Country Representative for Propcom+, during a high-profile stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina State.
Propcom+ is an eight-year climate-resilient agricultural market development programme, designed to drive sustainable farming and forestry practices while tackling environmental, economic, and social challenges in Nigeria’s food and land-use systems.
According to Mrs. Ode, the programme, which runs from 2023 to 2030, is structured to:
- Increase productivity and farmer incomes
- Enhance food security and nutrition
- Strengthen climate resilience in agriculture
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Protect Nigeria’s natural ecosystems
“We’re improving the resilience of smallholders and small-scale entrepreneurs to climate change while increasing productivity and incomes. The programme will help tackle Nigeria’s underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity, supporting sustainable, pro-poor, climate-resilient growth in rural markets,” Ode stated.
Expanding Reach Across Nigeria
With an initial £95 million earmarked for the programme, Propcom+ has already begun operations in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, and Adamawa. Now, Katsina has officially been approved as a beneficiary following discussions between Governor Dikko Radda and the FCDO.
“This decision was welcomed by farmers, agribusinesses, processors, academics, and women’s cooperatives in Katsina,” Ode revealed, adding that further discussions with government officials will help identify critical challenges and solutions.
The UK-backed initiative is laser-focused on three major roadblocks to Nigeria’s agricultural success:
- Low agricultural productivity – equipping farmers with better tools, knowledge, and technology to improve yields.
- Conflict over natural resources – reducing competition for land and water while promoting peaceful coexistence.
- Climate change impact – ensuring smallholder farmers and rural SMEs can thrive despite environmental challenges.
Propcom+ aims to reach 3.79 million vulnerable Nigerians, with at least 50% of them being women, and help over four million people adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
What This Means for Nigeria
This multi-million-pound investment is more than just financial backing—it’s a blueprint for an agricultural revolution. By boosting Nigeria’s rural economy, improving farmer resilience, and promoting sustainable practices, Propcom+ could redefine the country’s agricultural future.
As the programme expands, all eyes will be on Katsina and other beneficiary states to see how effectively this UK-Nigeria partnership can reshape lives, improve food security, and drive economic growth in the years ahead.
