THRIVE

Context and Project Objective

Smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria face significant challenges that undermine their productivity, livelihoods, and food security. Decades of neglect in the agricultural sector, worsened by few employment opportunities and weak infrastructure, have left rural communities vulnerable to banditry, kidnapping, and economic instability. The financial crisis, marked by currency devaluation and removal of government fuel subsidies, has doubled the cost of essential goods and agricultural inputs, further constraining farmers’ ability to invest in their operations. Additionally, market inefficiencies, insufficient knowledge, and inadequate access to quality inputs and extension services have resulted in low farm yields and income. 

Despite these challenges, the vegetable sector in Nigeria is a promising area for growth. Building on the successful Transforming Nigeria’s Vegetable Markets project (2019–2024), the THRIVE project therefore aims to upskill 30,000 smallholder farmers (including women and youth) in northern Nigeria, positioning them as key entrepreneurs. This project will focus on increasing farmers’ income through using sustainable, climate-smart practices to produce a greater quantity and wider variety of safe-to-eat vegetables for local, national, and regional wet markets.

THRIVE will utilize a multipronged approach: 

• Agronomic and business training: EWS-KT will use field-based approaches to expose farmers to simple but effective agronomic techniques. In addition, farmers will be empowered with entrepreneurship skills. 
• Nurturing market connectivity: EWS-KT will help farmers grow their business through connecting them to traders who are interested in high-quality vegetables and a more consistent vegetable supply.
• Extension materials and digital resources: In close cooperation with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), EWS-KT will develop a series of modules and high-quality planting guides available in local languages. These materials will be made widely available through training sessions, agro-input dealers, radio programs, and digital platforms.
• Entrepreneurship and access to finance: EWS-KT will foster linkages with microfinance institutions, enhance farmers’ bankability through training and certification, and facilitate mutual understanding between farmers and microfinance institutions to unlock credit opportunities.
• Training of trainers and other sector professionals: WUR will offer a blended learning program where sector professionals learn through both online modules and offline practical assignments at the existing learning farms at Ahmadu Bello University (Kaduna) and Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education (Kano). 
• Training of local agro-input suppliers: EWS-KT will work closely with 40 agro-input retailers to increase their capacity to share accurate information on improved agricultural technologies with their smallholder clients.

Expected Outcomes

• At least 20,000 of the 30,000 trained farmers start adopting improved practices.
• 20,000 of the trained farmers increase their annual net income by US$180.

Project Partners

Funding partner: This project is co-funded by a private Dutch foundation.

Implementing partners: Wageningen University & Research; Ahmadu Bello University; Ministry of Agriculture in Kaduna, Kano, and Sokoto States

Project Period

1 January 2025 – 31 December 2026

Location

Nigeria: Kaduna, Kano, and Sokoto states