Friday, November 14, 2025 - Several northern states have welcomed the European Union and Germany’s new €18.3 million agriculture project aimed at boosting Nigeria’s food production.
According to Punch, the project tagged EU-VACE TARED
(Agriculture Value Chain Facility – Transformative Agricultural Systems for
Rural Economic Development) is a four-year initiative aimed at transforming
Nigeria’s agricultural sector through climate-smart practices, job creation,
and inclusive value chain development.
The project, which targets over 25,000 farmers in four
critical agricultural value chains: cocoa, dairy, tomatoes, and ginger, will
run from October 2024 to September 2028 and will be implemented by the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, in partnership with
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning as well as the
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The regional launch, held in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday,
was attended by various dignitaries and representatives from the various
northern states that including Kano, Plateau, Kebbi, as well as officials from
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking at the event, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau
State commended the European Union and the German government for the
initiative, describing it as laudable.
Mutfwang, who was represented by the State Commissioner for
Livestock, Sunday Akpa
expressed optimism that the project would transform the
state’s agricultural landscape, stressing, “As a government, we are happy
because the project will revive the dairy sector in Plateau State, contributing
to Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in dairy production.
“We are optimistic that this partnership will drive Nigeria
towards dairy self-sufficiency and improve the livelihoods of our farmers.”
The Kebbi State government, represented by a director in
the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Farouk Illo, also commended the EU and the
German counterpart for the project, pointing out that the initiative aligns
with their efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods
in Kebbi State.
“We expect the project to boost our agricultural output,
create jobs, and stimulate economic growth,” Illo said.
Similarly, the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock
Development, Dr Aliyu Isa, disclosed that the state government was committed to
leveraging the project to boost agricultural development and food security in
Kano State.
“This is not the first time the EU and Germany have been
doing something remarkable in Kano State
“We believe the EU-VACE TARED project will support our
efforts to modernise agriculture, improve value chains, and increase farmers’
incomes,” the Commissioner stated
The Head of Cooperation at the European Union
Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca and the Head of Cooperation,
German Embassy, Dr Karin Jansen, as well as the Head of Programme, EU-VACE
TARRED, Dr Andrea Reudiger, in their separate remarks assured the people that
they were committed to supporting the northern states and more importantly,
Nigeria’s agricultural development.
“The EU has projects in Nigeria and the region, and we are
committed to enhancing connectivity, promoting sustainable development, and
strengthening economic ties between the EU and Nigeria,” Luca stressed.
Our Correspondent reports that before the project launch, a
team of EU and German delegation had visited the Plateau State Ministry of
Agriculture and the state governor at the Rayfield Government House in Jos to
inform them of the intervention.
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