Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Annual Report 2020

The activity is being implemented by Winrock International, with subcontractors including Connexus, Digital Green Foundation, and European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD). Major counterpart organizations involved in the activity include public and private sector extension and service providers, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), and State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The activity is focused on seven states in Nigeria: Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger. The primary objective of the activity is to partner with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and key market actors within the aquaculture, cowpea, maize, rice, and soybean value chains to pilot proven technologies, scale up successful ones, and promote the adoption of improved production practices and service delivery. The activity aims to rapidly, effectively, and sustainably provide access to agro-inputs and service delivery and disseminate extension messaging to at least two million smallholder farmers (SHFs) in the target states. Implementation of the activity is ongoing, with progress being made in various areas. The activity has established partnerships with key stakeholders, including MSMEs, market actors, and government agencies. Training programs have been conducted for farmers, extension agents, and other stakeholders to enhance their knowledge and skills in improved production practices and service delivery. The activity has also established a monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The activity has made significant progress in the reporting period, which spans from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. During this period, the activity conducted training programs for over 1,000 farmers and extension agents, established partnerships with 20 MSMEs, and provided technical assistance to over 500 farmers. The activity also conducted a baseline survey to gather data on the current status of smallholder farmers in the target states. The activity has also made progress in implementing its cross-cutting activities, including the launch of the Partnership and Investment Fund (PIF) and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) analysis and plan. The PIF is designed to provide financial support to MSMEs and other stakeholders to implement innovative agricultural projects. The GESI analysis and plan aim to ensure that the activity's interventions are inclusive and equitable for all stakeholders, particularly women and youth. Overall, the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity is making significant progress in its implementation, with a focus on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the target states. The activity's interventions are designed to be sustainable and scalable, with the potential to benefit millions of smallholder farmers in Nigeria.