The average age of maize farmers in Nigeria is now about 53years in a country where the average age of the citizen is 18years. Food processors fear that if something is not done urgently, the supply chains will become unreliable over the next decade. Processors have complained of insufficient quantities of acceptable quality produce on the market and are now tending towards traceability of produce they purchase. Companies like Nestle Nigeria PLC would therefore like to see youth come into agriculture to replace the ageing producers.
The Youth Agripreneurship Development project (YADP) is a partnership with Nestle to develop 400 youth and women Agripreneurs in Kaduna to increase their income, yield of maize and provide services to other farmers. The project successfully registered, trained and supported 372 farmers in increasing their productivity of maize (short of the 400 target as a result of disruptions due to COVID-19 lockdown prior to the season) and also recruited and trained 39 Community Life Agents (Village Based Advisors) who served as Agric extension support to the various farmers(under 4 experienced Extension workers who supervised them). 68 females were trained as Agripreneurs. Each of the Agripreneurs were provided a complete set of inputs for cultivating 1 hectare of land by CBi Innovations Ltd and six training interventions throughout the crop cycle.
| Title | Youth Agripreneurship Development Project (YADP) |
| Start Date | May, 2020 |
| Duration | 10 – Months (May, 2020 – February, 2021) |
| Target Area | Ikara, Markafi, Sabon Gari, Soba, Giwa, Kubau, Zaria, Zuntu2/Soba |
| Beneficiaries | (372) Farmers benefiting Inputs, Training with Guidance from (39) Community LIFE Agents (CLAs) and Supervision from (4) Supervisors overseen by (1) Coordinator. |
| Total Yield | 11,904 Bags of 100Kg Maize (11.904tonnes) was produced by 372 farmers |
| Average Yield/Hectare | 32 Bags (3.2tonnes) of Maize |
| Total Recovery | 4,154 bags (4.154 tonnes) Maize was recovered from farmers as (93%) loan repayment out of 4,464 bags owed |
| Project Objective | Year1: To develop (400) youth and women Agripreneurs to increase their production of maize and provide services to other farmers. |