Sustainable farming and market access at the heart of new partnership to transform
agriculture
Zaria, Kaduna State | May 06 th , 2025 — In a bold step towards building a climate-resilient
agricultural sector, AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe have launched the Strengthening
Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the
Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Nigeria.
StreFaS is a three-year initiative, funded by AGRA and Nestlé, that will run from June 2024 to
October 2027. The program aims to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators
across Kaduna and Nasarawa States, promoting sustainable production of maize, soybean, rice,
and sorghum. It focuses on integrating regenerative agriculture into every step of the value
chain, with particular emphasis on empowering youth and women.
StreFaS will help improve soil health, lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase biodiversity,
and strengthen economic resilience. Furthermore, the program connects smallholder farmers to
formal markets, including Nestlé’s supply chain, enabling them to receive premium prices for
climate-smart produce.
The launch event, held in Zaria, Kaduna State, brought together high-level representatives from
the government, development partners, private-sector stakeholders, and members of the media.
The event featured keynote speeches from implementing partners, a case study from a climate-
smart farmer, and a powerful project overview underscoring the initiative’s role in transforming
Nigeria’s grain value chains.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria,
described the STREFAS initiative as a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. “This
project represents a bold commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with
the tools, knowledge, and market access they need to thrive in the face of climate change.
STREFAS is not just about boosting yields—it’s about regenerating our soils, restoring dignity
to farming, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across Kaduna
and Nasarawa States,” she said.
“We are proud to co-lead this initiative that puts farmers first — not just by introducing new
practices, but by rebuilding the very ecosystems that sustain farming — core to AGRA’s
approach to sustainable and resilient food systems transformation,” said Dr. Rufus Idris,
AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria.
Speaking on Nestlé’s commitment, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, added:
“At Nestlé, we believe that good food starts with high-quality ingredients and the well-being of
the people who produce them. Our partnership in this initiative underscores our commitment to
sustainable sourcing and decarbonizing our value chain. Globally, we aim to source at least 50%
of our key ingredients from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture by 2030. With an
investment of over $1,000,000 in this project over the next three years, we aim to contribute
towards establishing regenerative agriculture as the standard in the food industry, addressing
both environmental and social priorities holistically.”
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State, Honourable
Murtala Muhammad Dabo stated “This launch marks a significant milestone in our journey
towards a more sustainable agricultural future. I commend TechnoServe and its partners for their
dedication to promoting climate-smart agriculture practices in Kaduna State. Let us continue to
work together to empower farmers, improve food security, and build a climate-resilient
agricultural sector. I wish you all the best in this endeavor.”
On the sidelines of the launch, MAGGI celebrated the Soya Bean farmers who were part of the
regenerative agriculture pilot project. One of the farmers Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared a
compelling testimonial.
“Since I started adopting the strategies, we were taught in this project, my yields have increased
by 100%. This was very surprising and encouraging for me. I am very happy with the outcome
and thank the project partners and MAGGI for bringing this opportunity to us.”
The StreFaS initiative is aligned with AGRA’s 3.0 Country Strategy, Nestlé’s 2030 Climate
resilience sourcing goals, and TechnoServe’s proven expertise in building market-driven
solutions for rural prosperity.
By connecting smallholder farmers to better tools, markets, and capital, StreFaS will scale
regeneration in ways that are profitable and empowering. As implementation continues, the
program will deepen collaboration with government, private sector, and civil society partners to
sustain scalable change across Nigeria’s grain value chain.
About STReFaS
Funded by AGRA and Nestlé, StreFaS is a three-year initiative running from June 2024 to
October 2027. The program aims to support 25,000 smallholder farmers andeight aggregators
across Kaduna and Nasarawa States, promoting sustainable production of maize, soybean, rice,
and sorghum.
By embedding regenerative agriculture into every step of the value chain, StreFaS restores soil
health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases biodiversity, and builds economic resilience
— particularly for youth and women. The program also links smallholder farmers to formal
markets, including Nestlé’s supply chain, where they can access premium pricing for climate-
smart produce.
Impact So Far
Since inception, StreFaS has:
Engaged 12,373 farmers, with 40% youth participation
Established 270 demonstration farms showcasing regenerative practices
Aggregated 74,223.53 metric tons of produce from SHFs
Supported smallholders in dedicating 1,853 hectares to regenerative agriculture practices
With structured training, SME engagement, and market linkage strategies in place, the project is
poised to scale to 25,000 farmers, while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s climate
resilience agenda and food systems transformation.
