The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project has convened a consultative meeting of stakeholders in rural agricultural institutions to strengthen the multi-stakeholder platform supporting the LIFE-ND initiative in Bayelsa State.
The LIFE-ND project is a development programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The initiative is designed to support rural youths, women, and persons with disabilities by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities through agribusiness, using an incubation model.
In his opening remarks, the Bayelsa State Project Coordinator, Mr. Kester Amos-Ebiowei, underscored the importance of partnerships in transforming the agricultural food system, particularly for small-scale farmers. He explained that the programme aims to reach rural farmers, identify their challenges, and provide access to finance, extension services, and stronger farmers’ organizations within communities.
According to him, closer collaboration is imperative, given that a large proportion of food consumed in the country is produced by smallholder farmers who face numerous challenges.
Speaking earlier, the Rural Institutions, Gender and Youth Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr. Clement Uwem, said the essence of farmers’ organizations is to ensure that farmers are properly structured to confront the multidimensional challenges typical of small-scale agriculture. He urged participants to strengthen their organizations and build robust collaborations that would enhance capacity, promote knowledge sharing, and enable the development of tailored solutions to sector-specific challenges.
The meeting drew participants from various farmer groups and institutions, including Youth in Agriculture, Nigeria Women in Agriculture, the LIFE-ND Agribusiness Innovative Forum (LABIF), the Bayelsa State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), the Commodity Apex Development Association (CADA), and the State Bureau of Cooperatives.
Participants engaged in a robust panel discussion on key issues affecting the sector, including access to finance, climate-smart agriculture, land availability, and market linkages.
Some participants, including Mrs. Beketin Taiwo and Mr. Ovuru Tariowei, called for more engagements of this nature to enable small-scale farmers to synergize for higher productivity. They also urged farmers to embrace agriculture as a business rather than a leisure activity.
A major highlight of the event was the production of a communiqué outlining collaborative strategies for strengthening the multi-stakeholder platform in Bayelsa State.
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