AGRA, Nestlé, TechnoServe Unveil $1m Climate-Smart Agriculture Project

AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe have launched a $1 million initiative aimed at empowering 25,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria with climate-smart farming practices and market access.

The project—titled Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate-Smart Grain Production and Accessing Structured Markets (StreFaS), will run from June 2024 to October 2027 across Kaduna and Nasarawa States. It focuses on the regenerative production of maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum, while directly integrating farmers into structured markets such as Nestlé’s supply chain.

So far, the initiative has already recorded notable progress, as it has engaged 12,373 farmers, with 40 percent youth participation; established 270 demonstration farms to showcase regenerative practices.
aggregated 74,223.53 metric tons of climate-smart grain and dedicated 1,853 hectares to regenerative agriculture practices. By connecting smallholder farmers to markets offering premium prices for sustainably grown crops, StreFaS is not only boosting livelihoods but also championing environmental sustainability.

In her welcome address, country director of TechnoServe Nigeria, Adesuwa Akinboro, at the launch event, in Kaduna state, described the STREFAS initiative as a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“This project represents a bold commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with the tools, knowledge, and market access they need to thrive in the face of climate change. STREFAS is not just about boosting yields—it’s about regenerating our soils, restoring dignity to farming, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across Kaduna and Nasarawa States,” she said.

AGRA’s country director for Nigeria, Dr. Rufus Idris, said, “We are proud to co-lead this initiative that puts farmers first — not just by introducing new practices, but by rebuilding the very ecosystems that sustain farming — core to AGRA’s approach to sustainable and resilient food systems transformation,”

Speaking on Nestlé’s commitment, the CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, added: “At Nestlé, we believe that good food starts with high-quality ingredients and the well-being of the people who produce them. Our partnership in this initiative underscores our commitment to sustainable sourcing and decarbonizing our value chain. Globally, we aim to source at least 50 percent of our key ingredients from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture by 2030. With an investment of over $1,000,000 in this project over the next three years, we aim to contribute towards establishing regenerative agriculture as the standard in the food industry, addressing both environmental and social priorities holistically.”

Speaking at the event, the commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State, Murtala Muhammad Dabo said, “This launch marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable agricultural future. I commend TechnoServe and its partners for their dedication to promoting climate-smart agriculture practices in Kaduna State. Let us continue to work together to empower farmers, improve food security, and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector. I wish you all the best in this endeavor.”

On the sidelines of the launch, MAGGI celebrated the Soya Bean farmers who were part of the regenerative agriculture pilot project. One of the farmers, Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared a compelling testimonial.

“Since I started adopting the strategies we were taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100 percent. This was very surprising and encouraging for me. I am very happy with the outcome and thank the project partners and MAGGI for bringing this opportunity to us.”

The StreFaS initiative is aligned with AGRA’s 3.0 Country Strategy, Nestlé’s 2030 Climate resilience sourcing goals, and TechnoServe’s proven expertise in building market-driven solutions for rural prosperity.

By connecting smallholder farmers to better tools, markets, and capital, StreFaS will scale regeneration in ways that are profitable and empowering. As implementation continues, the program will deepen collaboration with government, private sector, and civil society partners to sustain scalable change across Nigeria’s grain value chain.