DFID offers lifeline to farmers in the north

PropCom Mai-Karfi, a  flagship agricultural programme of Department for International Development (DFID) Nigeria,  is fast-tracking  increasing the incomes of poor men and women in northern Nigeria by stimulating changes in selected markets which matter most to poor people, and which have significant growth potentials.

Businessday learnt  that Propcom Mai-karfi’s private sector-led interventions lends support to farmers in improving commercial relationships between large businesses, middlemen/traders and poor famers/households, and increasing private sector investment into rural markets through better distribution channels and product education.

Mustapha Mohammed, intervention manager for the programme told Businessday that  Propcom Mai-karfi is working to eliminate market barriers and constraints which hinder small holder farmers from becoming economic actors within market spaces.

By allowing the private sector to take the lead and helping them breakdown and unlock incentives in selected agricultural markets, we are helping poor rural farmers and entrepreneurs to access vital goods and services like mechanisation, inputs, storage, finance, as well as a market to sell their produce like shea kernels and soybean,” Mustapha explained.

These private-sector led approaches are the future of development and of agriculture in Nigeria as they are more likely to ensure sustainability,” he explained.