In a bold step to combat climate change and build a sustainable food future, Nestlé Nigeria, AGRA, and TechnoServe have launched the “Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets” (StreFaS) initiative—a landmark project that aims to revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria through regenerative practices.
The official launch of the initiative took place on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Zaria, Kaduna State, drawing the participation of high-level stakeholders from government, development agencies, the private sector, and the media. The three-year program, running from June 2024 to October 2027, is expected to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators across Kaduna and Nasarawa States. The focus is on the sustainable production of key grains including maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum.
Speaking at the launch, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, described StreFaS as a transformative step toward inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture in Nigeria. She emphasized that the project is not only about improving yields, but also about regenerating soil health, restoring dignity to farming, and ensuring long-term sustainability for communities.
Dr. Rufus Idris, Country Director of AGRA, stated that the initiative represents AGRA’s core approach to building resilient food systems. “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,” he said.
Nestlé Nigeria’s CEO, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, reinforced the company’s global commitment to regenerative agriculture. He disclosed that Nestlé is investing over \$1 million into the project over the next three years. “At Nestlé, we believe that good food begins with healthy ingredients and thriving farmers. This partnership supports our broader goal of sourcing at least 50% of our key ingredients through regenerative agriculture by 2030,” he noted.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Honourable Murtala Muhammad Dabo, described the initiative as a major milestone in the journey towards sustainable agriculture. He commended the partners for prioritizing climate-smart agriculture and urged continued collaboration in supporting smallholder farmers and ensuring food security.
One of the highlights of the event was a testimonial from Engineer Lawan Abdul, a beneficiary of the project’s regenerative agriculture pilot, who shared that his crop yield had doubled since adopting the introduced practices. MAGGI, one of Nestlé’s flagship brands, also celebrated the farmers for their participation and commitment.
Since its inception, StreFaS has already engaged 12,373 farmers—40% of whom are youth—established 270 demonstration farms, aggregated over 74,000 metric tons of produce, and dedicated more than 1,800 hectares of land to regenerative practices.
By equipping farmers with climate-smart techniques and connecting them to premium markets—including Nestlé’s own supply chain—StreFaS is not just mitigating environmental degradation, but also improving livelihoods and advancing Nigeria’s food systems transformation agenda.
The initiative aligns with AGRA’s Country Strategy 3.0, Nestlé’s 2030 climate resilience targets, and TechnoServe’s mission to build inclusive, market-driven solutions for rural prosperity. As implementation deepens, the program is set to scale regeneration in ways that are profitable, inclusive, and climate-resilient for Nigeria’s future.