The World Bank has approved a five hundred million dollars ($500m) International Development Association (IDA) credit to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector through a new programme. According to World Bank, the initiative was designed to support smallholder farmers, improve value chains, and enhance food security. The project, known as the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Project (AGROW), will run from 2026 to 2032. It aims to raise productivity, expand market access, and generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people. In a statement released on Thursday, the bank acknowledged agriculture as Nigeria’s largest employer, but stated that the sector continues to underperform due to low productivity, poor access to quality inputs, climate shocks, and weak market linkages. Reports insisted that many smallholder farmers remain locked in subsistence farming, while food and nutrition insecurity persists nation...