By Eyo Nsima
Heifer international has concluded plans to empower 10 million households toward closing their income gaps.
Speaking at the NES#27, Rufus Idris, Country Director for Heifer Nigeria, who spoke on, “Youth and Technology: The Future of Nigeria’s Agriculture” at the NES#27, said: “Heifer International is a global development organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way, through working with farmers, their communities and market system actors to identify and invest in business opportunities that deliver sustainable living incomes, inclusive and resilient economies.
“For 77 years, Heifer International has assisted more than 36 million people in 21 countries (in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States) to end hunger and poverty.
“As part of its ambitious target to help additional 10 million households close the living income gap by 2030, Heifer International has now extended its footprint to Nigeria, and today marks our soft launch of Heifer Nigeria – congratulations for being a part of this historic event.
“With Heifer’s programs in 11 African Countries, Nigeria is very pivotal to ending hunger and poverty in Africa.
“To secure our future there is a fierce urgency of now to address the issues of: Food insecurity and massive food importation associated with under-performance of our agricultural sector and food system; high unemployment among youths; and dwindling economy. Youth Creativity and technology in agriculture will drive growth in Nigeria.”
He said: “Our first Signature Program for Nigeria is tagged “NAIJA UNLOCK”, aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s potential for food self-sufficiency, working with smallholder farmers and market actors to fill local demand while closing the living income gap for families in selected value chains, starting with Tomato, Rice and Poultry value chain.”
Heifer’s Senior Vice President for Africa Programs, Adesuwa Ifedi, also, said: “Youth and Technology; The Future of Nigeria’s Agriculture”, said that Nigeria’s agricultural sector could surpass oil, in foreign exchange earnings, with the application of innovation and latest agric-tech.”
