IFAD Programme Empowers 60,000 Youths With Agriculture and Processing Skills

The intervention of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is supporting efforts to increase food production, reduce poverty and create new economic opportunities for young people across the region.

The programme, jointly funded by the Federal Government and participating state governments, has trained and equipped more than 60,000 youths in agricultural activities and agro-processing.

The intervention is helping young people develop practical skills in farming, food production and processing, with the broader objective of improving livelihoods and strengthening participation in the agricultural value chain.

Beyond food production, the initiative is also aimed at addressing youth unemployment by creating pathways for young people to engage in productive agricultural enterprises and build sustainable sources of income.

The development highlights the potential of targeted investment in agriculture to simultaneously improve food security, create jobs and support poverty reduction in communities across the Niger Delta.

As Nigeria continues to seek solutions to food insecurity and unemployment, programmes that equip young people with skills, productive assets and opportunities within the agricultural value chain remain important to building more resilient local economies.