AGRA, Nestlé, and TechnoServe Partner to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture in Nigeria through $1M StreFaS Program

AGRA, Nestlé, and TechnoServe Partner to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture in Nigeria through $1M StreFaS Program

In a major step toward building a climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe have jointly launched the Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate-Smart Grain Production and Accessing Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Nigeria.

The three-year, $1 million program

 co-funded by AGRA and Nestlé,—will run from June 2024 to October 2027, aiming to empower 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators across Kaduna and Nasarawa States. The focus is on promoting sustainable production of key grains such as maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum using regenerative agriculture techniques that improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase biodiversity.

StreFaS is designed to not only enhance environmental sustainability but also strengthen farmers’ economic resilience by linking them to formal and premium markets, including Nestlé’s supply chain.

The official launch event, held in Zaria, Kaduna State, brought together government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and media representatives. Attendees heard powerful keynote addresses and a moving testimonial from a participating soybean farmer whose yields doubled after implementing regenerative practices.

Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, described StreFaS as a “transformative step” for Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“StreFaS is not just about boosting yields—it’s about regenerating soils, restoring dignity to farming, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for rural communities,” she said.

Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria, emphasized the program’s farmer-first approach.

“We’re not just introducing new practices—we’re rebuilding ecosystems essential to farming, which aligns with AGRA’s vision for sustainable food systems.”

Nestlé Nigeria’s CEO, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, reaffirmed the company’s global commitment to sustainable sourcing:

“We aim to source 50% of our key ingredients from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture by 2030. This project is a crucial part of achieving that target.”

The Honourable Murtala Muhammad Dabo, Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, lauded the initiative:

“This partnership sets a benchmark for sustainable agricultural development in Kaduna. We are proud to be part of this journey.”

Celebrating local success stories, MAGGI also recognized soybean farmers involved in an earlier pilot. Farmer Engineer Lawan Abdul shared:

“Since adopting regenerative practices, my yields have doubled. This project has changed my outlook and income.”

The StreFaS initiative supports AGRA’s Country Strategy 3.0, Nestlé’s 2030 climate goals, and TechnoServe’s mission to create sustainable market-driven solutions for rural prosperity. The program will continue to build cross-sector collaboration to scale regenerative agriculture and ensure long-term impact across Nigeria’s grain value chains.