The AfDB is giving Nigeria $134 million to boost food production by growing key crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and soybeans.
The bank’s president, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, made this known on Saturday after visiting the CDA at Bayero University, Kano.
He told reporters that the bank plans to help Nigeria grow 300,000 hectares of rice and maize, 150,000 hectares of cassava, and 50,000 hectares of soybeans in 2024.
He said: “This March, the AfDB is supporting Nigeria to cultivate 118,000 hectares of heat-tolerant varieties of wheat and another 150,000 hectares of maize.
“We live in an era of climate change and yet only three per cent of African agriculture is under irrigation. We have to make sure we help our farmers with information that is timely and appropriate.
“We have no alternative but to adapt to climate change; adopt better ways of using water, particularly in the cultivation of dry land crops that are more resilient and tolerant,’’
He also said that the AfDB would give grants to the CDA and partner with it to create a center for weather forecasting and data collection, to help farmers plant better.
He said: “We will work with the center to become one of the centers of excellence in technology.
“We will also support youths to develop their business ideas into reality with our 20,000-dollar grant on Agri Pitch’ and Agri Hacking’,
