From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Olam Agri, in partnership with Sustainable Collective Advocacy for Africa Development (SCAAD) Initiative, is to launch the Community Resilience Opportunities for Women and Youth (CROWY) in Benue and Nasarawa States.

A press release by Elizabeth Nnoko Communication Manager, Olam Agri, said the CROWY Project is aimed at creating lasting positive change for women and youth across Nigeria’s North-Central region.

The Project ground-breaking initiative is designed to empower grassroots women and youth farmers, aligning with national development and gender equality objectives.

The project also, aims to strengthen livelihoods during off-farming seasons by equipping beneficiaries with strategic leadership skills, entrepreneurship training, and increased awareness on inclusion, gender equality, and early warning signs and systems related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Delivered in collaboration with Rich-Oak Life Initiative, Sahel International Support Foundation, and Elikizi Foundation for Women and Youth Advancement, the CROWY Project seeks to close critical economic gaps by providing inclusive livelihood opportunities, access to cooperative financing, and leadership support for emerging women and youth-led enterprises.

“We aim to create 10 Village Savings and Loan Associations and support 100 of women and youth entrepreneurs within the first year in the fields of tailoring, baking amongst others.

“This intervention will expand economic opportunities, promote self-employment, and build sustainable and resilient livelihoods across the targeted communities.

“Across Nigeria, women, youth, and persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers to education, livelihoods, and leadership pathways. Recent statistics highlight the urgency of this challenge.

“In 2023, women’s labour force participation stood at just over 52%, down from nearly 57% in 2010 (Statista, 2023). Youth unemployment remains critically high, with 53% of Nigerians aged 15–24 unemployed or underemployed (World Bank, 2024).

“According to Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, as of October 2025, approximately 70% of Nigerian women live in extreme poverty, unable to meet basic needs or sustain livelihoods

“These figures paint a stark picture of structural inequalities that continue to undermine national development and social stability”, the statement said.

On the part of SCAAD initiative, a Statement by Frances Okeke, Executive Director, stated that “Every day, we meet women and young people with immense creativity and resilience, yet without the support they need to thrive truly. Nigeria’s overlapping crises have made survival even harder for them, especially in farming communities where off-season periods often deepen economic vulnerability.

Okeke maintained the through the support of Olam Agri, the CROWY Project is stepping into this gap, offering practical skills, livelihood opportunities, and hope to grassroots women and youth.

Said he, “Together, we are equipping individuals not only to earn a living during non-farming seasons but also to lead, innovate, and uplift their communities. When women and young people are given the tools to succeed, entire communities become more resilient and rise with them.”

While Anil Nair, Country Head Olam Agri Nigeria added, “Our partnership with SCAAD Initiative on the CROWY Project reinforces our shared vision of resilient, empowered, and economically active communities. Women and youth are central to the future of agriculture in Nigeria and supporting them through targeted skills development and inclusive financing is essential for long-term national growth.

“Olam Agri will continue to champion initiatives that uplift vulnerable groups and strengthen the fabric of our communities.”

“Olam Agri and SCAAD Initiative invite government agencies, community leaders, NGOs, and development partners to join in supporting inclusive livelihood strategies. Collaboration is vital to building resilient, equitable communities.

“The partnership is committed catalyze efforts to enhance economic opportunities, promote self-employment, and build sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in conflict-affected communities”.

The Federal Government, through the Kano State Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme in partnership with IFAD, has empowered 9,870 rice farmers in Kano with climate-resilient inputs and modern rice production technologies.

This was contained in a statement issued by the SAPZ Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Rabi Mustapha.

The State Project Coordinator, Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed this on Sunday during the Farmers Field Day at Chiromawa Garin Babba Cluster in Garun Malam Local Government Area.

He said the exercise was organised to expose the farmers to Science-based and practical solutions capable of enhancing yields, improving food security, and boosting rural livelihoods.

Iliyasu described the field day as a celebration of knowledge, innovation and the resilience of smallholder farmers.

He explained that the SAPZ initiative in Kano aimed to expand access to improved technologies, strengthen extension services, reduce post-harvest losses and create market opportunities for rural farmers.

“These innovations are not theoretical. They are practical solutions that farmers can adopt immediately to raise productivity and increase income,” he said, while commending the support of local authorities.

Mustapha said the inputs distributed to 9,870 farmers included FARO 44 improved seeds, Urea and NPK fertilizers, and insecticides, targeting beneficiaries in Garun Malam, Gezawa, Bichi and Bagwai LGAs during the 2025 wet season.

She added that experts trained farmers on soil selection, seed dressing, nursery establishment, land preparation, and timely transplanting at proper spacing.

“They also covered fertilizer management, weed control, Integrated Pest Management and water regulation to boost rice yields.

“The training emphasised harvesting at optimal maturity, drying paddy to safe moisture levels, and fumigation using phostoxin to prevent storage losses,” she stated.

A beneficiary, Salamatu Ali, said the intervention had positioned Kano farmers to boost yields, withstand climate pressures and increase household incomes.

Another farmer, Huwaila Ibrahim, said the programme transformed her approach to rice production.

“Before, we planted without checking whether the land was suitable.

“Now, we first assess the soil to ensure it matches the seed variety. This season, we cultivated FARO 44,” she said.

Ibrahim added that her output increased from 20–25 bags per acre to about 40 bags after adopting the improved technologies.

The Federal Government has launched the National Agricultural Sample Survey (NASS) 2023 report, towards developing data-driven policies to achieve food security and economic diversification.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known at the launch of “Disseminating the National Agricultural Sample Survey (NASS) 2023 report” on Tuesday in Abuja.

“As a Ministry, we will apply these findings across the core levers of agricultural transformation, ensuring that our programmes remain data-driven, impact-focused and aligned with the aspirations of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“A nation that measures well governs well. And food security begins with information security.

“This report should be seen as a practical tool for decision-making, one that guides policy choices, informs investment priorities and accelerates the reforms required across Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“In a country of more than 232 million people, the strength of our food system depends on the quality of the data that guides national decisions,” Kyari said.

The minister explained that without credible evidence, interventions risk being misdirected and investments may fail to reach the areas of highest need.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank launched “Disseminating the National Agricultural Sample Survey NASS the 2023 report”.

He stated that the National Agricultural Sample Survey provides reliable, sector-wide data that helps the agriculture sector track production, understand emerging trends, and guide policy decisions.

Kyari added that the launch and dissemination of the National Agricultural Sample Survey 2023 represents an important step in ensuring that our national choices are informed, targeted, and grounded firmly in evidence.

“This report therefore represents more than statistical outputs; it reflects our commitment to transparency, disciplined planning, and the sustainable development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“The findings of the National Agricultural Sample Survey 2023 present a clear and compelling picture of national production.

“The data we are presenting today is central to that mandate because it gives us the precision required to target interventions, close gaps, and drive the reforms needed to secure our nation’s food system.

“These data points also remind us that every figure reflects real activity across the country, from production to processing to marketing.

“With these digital foundations in place, insights from the NASS move from static data to operational intelligence, enabling a more transparent, efficient and connected agricultural system,” the Minister said.

The Director-General FAO representative in Nigeria, Dr. Hussein Gadain, said the NASS 2023 Report is not just a presentation of data but a celebration of collaboration, commitment, and progress towards building a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Similarly, Adeyemi Adeniran Statistician General of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that the NASS Report 2023 provides critical information on crop production, livestock, aquaculture, labour amongst all.

Adeniran who was represented by David Babalola an official of NBS said that data is essential for shaping effective policies and driving sustainable growth.

According to him, the survey also reaffirms the national bioscience commitment to upholding global best practices in data production through improved methodologies, enhanced field operations, rigorous quality data assurance processes and development of modern digital tools, in Nigeria.

Henry Karshima, Assistant Chief Forest Officer in the Ministry of Environment said that the role of agriculture cannot be overemphasised in food security especially with the launch of the survey.

Mr Abdulhameed Umar National Project Coordinator for Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes expressed satisfaction with the project in the line of restoring land degradation through data collection.

On his part, Asad Alam, the Senior Economist and Project leader 50×2030 Initiative World Bank Nigeria Development Data Group, Economic Division commended the initiative of making data a priority in agricultural activities to ensure food security.