ThriveAgric,a Nigerian Agricultural technology company focused on food security has flagged off its 2023/2024 dry season farming cycle with the distribution of agricultural input over 100,000 smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria to facilitate the production of over 300,000MT of grains.
As part of the initiative, the company aims to provide farmers with irrigation facilities, drought-resistant input, access to technology, storage, and premium markets to help optimise output in this farming cycle.
According to Oshone Anavhe, Vice President of Operations at ThriveAgric , “In Sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 95% of food production relies on rainfed agriculture. The dry season however remains mostly under-utilised for farming due to the absence of necessary infrastructure and widespread unavailability of drought-resistant inputs.
For the 2023/2024 farming cycle, ThriveAgric intends to leverage partnerships to impart thousands of smallholder farmers, especially those in the wheat, rice and maize value chain, by providing them with access to technology, irrigation facilities, drought-resistant input and premium markets.
If harnessed at a national scale, dry season farming has the potential to jumpstart food sufficiency in Nigeria, therefore we call on the government to invest in enabling infrastructure that would in turn attract investors and engage more farmers for dry season farming.
The flag-off was announced at an event in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The event brought together various stakeholders including financial institutions, government officials, farmers, and representatives of the farming communities from Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kano.
Conversations centred on the challenges and opportunities of crop cultivation during the dry season. Participants shared valuable insights on optimising crop yields, implementing effective water management, and developing coping mechanisms for the drought conditions often associated with this period.
Smallholder farmers encounter challenges during the dry season, stretching from August to September in the South of Nigeria and September to April in the North. With sparse rainfall and high temperatures, dry-season farming is extremely dependent on irrigation – access to water sources and drought-resistant seeds become crucial, affecting food security.
Matthew Omega, Regional Manager, Sterling Bank commented, “We believe in the transformative power of agriculture to drive economic growth and sustainability. Our collaboration with ThriveAgric exemplifies our commitment to providing innovative and accessible financial solutions for farmers. By joining forces, we aim to empower smallholder farmers, and the agricultural communities, promote responsible financial practices, and cultivate a future where prosperity and sustainability co-exist.”