Chi Farms deepens brand affiliation by Partnering USAID on Agribusiness
Chi farms Nigeria on Monday signed an agribusiness partnership deal with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The company said the partnership highlights its commitment to develop the Nigerian agriculture sector.
Under the partnership, Chi Farms will train 1,000 smallholder fish farmers in Lagos and Ogun States on new farming techniques, access to credit, and marketing skills to help raise incomes.
According to the company, the partnership will also provide farmers access to quality juvenile catfish from Chi Farms’ multiple hatcheries, as well as aquaculture management training and financial tools to provide the knowledge necessary to build successful aquaculture businesses.
Speaking on the partnership, Mission Director of USAID Nigeria, Michael T. Harvey, said USAID aims to address development and business challenges to agricultural inputs and mechanization by providing quality technical advisory services and expanded market opportunities for smallholder farmers.
He added that the partnership will also capitalize on the untapped potential of smallholder farmers and small processors to help grow agribusinesses, create secure jobs, and boost economic growth in Nigeria.
“With Nigeria’s increasing population, these programs are vital to achieving food security and lowering dependency on exports. Public-private partnerships are a proven way of expanding investment in agriculture, improving both efficiency and productivity,” he said.
As part of the initiative, USAID also announced its partnership with another Nigerian company, Niji Foods to establish three cassava peel processing centers in Nigeria. According to USAID, these centres will help provide commercially-available livestock feed from cassava peel.
These initiatives are part of the U.S. government Feed the Future program which was launched globally in 2012. Since 2014, Feed the Future has invested $75 million in Nigeria helping 800,000 Nigeria farmers acquire improved seeds, fertilizers, tools and access to markets.
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