The Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives has commended the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) for its significant strides in 2024.
Speaking at the agency’s budget defence on Friday, chaired by Saliu Mustapha, chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, and Bello Kaoje, chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services respectively, particularly commended the fund for its stride in facilitating sustainable agricultural development across the country.
The NASS committees underscored the importance of increasing support for the Fund to accelerate its initiatives and ensuring the timely disbursement of seed capital, which is critical for advancing the nation’s agricultural sector.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the NADF to achieve shared goals of enhancing the food security agenda of President Tinubu administration.
Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, executive secretary/CEO of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), who had earlier noted that the agency has adopted the blended financing model to bridge the $180 million agricultural funding gap, called for improved support to meet the targets of the 2025 fiscal year.
The CEO also highlighted key achievements from 2024, which he said included improved partnerships with stakeholders and the successful implementation of several flagship projects especially the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE) project.
While presenting the budget, Ibrahim emphasised the Fund’s strategic priorities for 2025, which include enhancing seed production systems, scaling up agricultural financing, and improving rural infrastructure to bolster food security and economic growth.
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