Nigeria has clinched a staggering $134 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to ramp up agricultural endeavors.

This substantial support aims to bolster the cultivation of vital crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and soybeans, heralding a new era of enhanced food production.

AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adesina, announced this monumental feat following his visit to the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) at Bayero University, Kano.

Adesina disclosed that the bank is poised to assist Nigeria in cultivating an impressive 300,000 hectares of rice and maize, alongside 150,000 hectares of cassava and 50,000 hectares of soybeans for the upcoming planting season of 2024.

Moreover, he emphasized the imperative of adapting to climate change, underscoring the need to implement innovative irrigation methods and cultivate resilient crops.

Adesina pledged AfDB’s unwavering support towards fortifying the CDA as a hub for weather prediction and agricultural innovation.

This groundbreaking initiative not only propels Nigeria’s agricultural sector forward but also underscores AfDB’s commitment to fostering sustainable development across the continent.