The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has identified 89 issues requiring attention in the draft implementation manuals for Nigeria's $500 million Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth, AGROW Project.
The Federal Director, Department of Development Partners Projects, Dr Emmanuel Akogun, disclosed this on Monday in Minna during the project's first implementation support mission and stakeholder consultation hosted by the Niger State government.
Akogun said the issues were identified in the draft Project Implementation Manual and the Agricultural Development Matching Grant Facility Operations Manual and grouped into six major areas.
According to him, they include the flow of funds for matching grants, governance of the matching grant facility, provisions of sub-grant and state agreements, eligibility criteria, results verification, and environmental and social risks and grievances.
He said the two-day consultation was organised to review the draft documents, address areas requiring clarification and ensure the manuals were ready before they were finalised.
The disclosure comes as the World Bank-backed project awaits the completion of implementation arrangements before it can become effective.
The World Bank's Lead Agricultural Economist and Task Team Leader for AGROW, Mr Hardwick Tchale said the bank's Board approved the project in March 2026, but the necessary implementation arrangements were still being put in place.
He explained that the first implementation support mission was assessing the readiness of federal and state-level institutions responsible for delivering the project.
Tchale stated that the $500 million project would support smallholder farmers to improve productivity and connect with structured markets through off-takers.
“AGROW will help targeted farmers move from farming as a livelihood to farming as a business, a source of improved income and a source of decent jobs,” he said.
The project will use a performance-based matching grant facility to support investments in primary production, aggregation, processing and value addition.
According to him, "its initial priority commodities are rice, maize, soybeans and cassava, while participating states may identify other commodities based on their priorities and market opportunities".
Tchale said the project would also support improved crop varieties, digital farmer registries, weather information and digital soil advisory services to guide farmers' production decisions.
He disclosed that the number of states to participate had not been determined, adding that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would decide in collaboration with state governments.
The National Project Coordinator of AGROW, Engr Ibrahim Alkali, said the implementation manuals must provide clear procedures for farmers, agribusinesses and implementing institutions, including eligibility requirements, application processes and access to the matching grant facility.
The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ahmed Mathew, said the state had submitted its readiness to participate through the National Project Coordinator, citing its agricultural potential.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anthonia Udo, urged implementing institutions and state governments to ensure transparency, accountability and prudent management of project funds, while meeting the financial and institutional requirements for implementation.
89 issues identified in draft manuals for Nigeria’s $500m agricultural project