Vice-President Kashim Shettima has announced the launch of the ‘Back to Farm’ initiative, a federal government program designed to resettle displaced farmers and stimulate agricultural production across Nigeria.
Shettima made the announcement during a panel session titled “When Food Becomes Security” at the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Addressing Food Security Through Resettlement
The initiative aims to tackle two critical challenges simultaneously: the plight of farmers displaced by conflict, climate change, and economic hardship, and Nigeria’s growing food security needs. It is structured to provide a holistic support package that includes:
* Agricultural Inputs: Such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and farming tools.
* Insurance: Risk mitigation products to protect farmers against losses from climate shocks or other disruptions.
* Access to Capital: Financial resources and credit facilities to enable farmers to restart cultivation and scale their operations.
“The ‘Back to Farm’ initiative is designed to resettle displaced farmers by providing agricultural inputs, insurance, and access to capital to restart food production,” Shettima stated, framing the program as a direct response to the instability in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Context of Broader Agricultural Challenges
The announcement comes at a time when Nigeria faces significant food inflation and reduced domestic production, partly due to insecurity in key farming regions and climate-induced disruptions. The initiative appears to build on and refine previous government agricultural interventions, with a sharper focus on displacement and resettlement.
A Strategic Move at a Global Forum
By unveiling the plan at Davos, the federal government signals its commitment to addressing food security as a national priority and seeks to align its efforts with global sustainable development goals. The forum provides a platform to potentially attract partnership and investment into Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The ‘Back to Farm’ initiative is expected to be implemented in coordination with state governments, development partners, and the private sector. Further details regarding funding, implementation timelines, and beneficiary selection criteria are anticipated in the coming weeks.
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