THE ADAS-P JOURNEY SO FAR: TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURE IN ADAMAWA STATE
By Dr. Tasiu Idi
The Adamawa Agribusiness Support Programme (ADAS-P) has been at the forefront of agribusiness transformation, empowering farmers, strengthening market linkages, and fostering financial inclusion across Adamawa state since year 2022. By aligning initiatives with core strategic objectives, enhancing productivity through promoting climate-smart practices, strengthening market access, enhancing financial inclusion, and empowering rural institutions, ADAS-P is creating a sustainable and prosperous agribusiness ecosystem. Let's take a closer look at the remarkable progress made so far across different agricultural sectors.
The Programme core mandate is to Transform the state subsistence farming into commercial agriculture by revolutionizing agribusiness, across the four subsectors of Crops, Livestock, Aquaculture and Forestry. Through innovative business models and financing strategies, ADAS-P is addressing critical challenges in agriculture and paving the way for sustainable development thereby building a competitive, profitable and sustainable Agribusiness sector in Adamawa State.
The ADAS Programme Operational Framework centers on two business models that bolster value chains, fortify farmer organization, and enhance connections to markets. Specifically, these business models include the Aggregation Model, which facilitates smallholder farmers' supply of produce under formal contracts meeting modern market standards, and the Out-Grower Business Model, which connects farmers with processors, off-takers, input suppliers, and agribusiness institutions through contract farming agreements. To further enhance farmer organization and market linkages, farmers are grouped into producer clusters to increase their bargaining power and market access, while warehouses serve as field storage centers to secure produce for financing and lending. The state provides essential infrastructure, such as identified markets and warehouses, to support these models. Additionally, a ₦5 billion Credit Guarantee Fund has been established to mitigate lending risks and encourage financial institutions to support aggregation and contract farming. Through this framework, ADAS-P is driving transformative changes in Adamawa State's agricultural sector. A detailed overview of the progress across key agricultural sectors follows.
Crops and Vegetables: Sowing the Seeds of Prosperity
Farming communities in Adamawa State are experiencing a transformation as a result of targeted interventions aimed at enhancing productivity and market access, all in pursuit of the program's four strategic objectives: enhancing productivity and promoting climate-smart practices, strengthening market access and promoting linkages with market partners, promoting financial inclusion and sustainable access to capital for private enterprises, and empowering rural institutions and fostering sustainable development. Specifically, ADAS-P, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has strengthened 43 Community-Based Seed Enterprises (CBSEs), involving 800 members across seven Local Government Areas, connecting these farmers to input financing and reliable markets to ensure higher productivity and profitability.
ADAS 2024 intervention through input financing for certified climate smart seeds promised an economic impact of ₦8B (Eight Billion Naira). The projected impact of certified seeds produced by CBSEs under this intervention are majorly in three key crops: maize, rice, and soya beans. A total of 80,958 kg of certified seeds were produced, covering 3,480 hectares of farmland. Maize accounts for the largest share, with 62,038kg of certified seeds covering 3,102 hectares, yielding an expected output of 10,857 MT of grains and generating an economic impact of ₦7,056,822,500. Rice follows with 16,740kg of certified seeds covering 335 hectares, expected to produce 1,507 MT of paddy and contributing ₦903,960,000 to the economy. Soya beans have the smallest share, with 2,180kg of certified seeds produced covering 44 hectares, leading to a projected 109 MT of output and an economic impact of ₦98,100,000. The overall economic impact of these certified seeds is projected at ₦8,058,882,500, emphasizing the significant role of certified seeds in boosting agricultural productivity and economic growth.
Furthermore, a 200-hectare wet-season soybean production project was launched in Demsa LGA in partnership with ALUVIA Agric and FINCON-Konsulting, creating improved opportunities for farmer growth. Additionally, farmer profiling and crop production have expanded through collaboration with agribusiness firms, fostering more inclusive participation in the agribusiness sector. To further promote irrigation farming, ADAS-P, along with the Office of the Surveyor General, community leaders, and producer organizations, conducted mapping and mobilization to aggregate for contract farming 2,000 Hectares of community irrigation farm clusters.
Livestock: Empowering Farmers, Expanding Opportunities
The livestock subsector is experiencing significant growth through ADAS-P's facilitation of innovative initiatives that empower smallholder farmers and reinforce value chains. Notably, thirty master trainers have been trained to equip 300 women in Yola South with skills in brooding and caring for Noiler poultry breeds, promoting cluster farming and improving access to input financing. Furthermore, small-scale poultry farmers have been clustered and profiled for support under an off-taker model, in collaboration with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Centre for Micro-enterprise Development (CMD). Additionally, homestead goat herders are now clustered ready for integration into an out-grower breeding program, connecting them to farm hubs and a large off-taker (SNSC) aiming to establish a processing and export plant in Yola, with the goal of supplying 100,000 goats per month, a transformative development for livestock farming in the state.
Aquaculture: Harnessing the Potential of Fisheries
ADAS-P is increasingly focused on aquaculture, striving to enhance fish farming and generate sustainable opportunities for local producers. Specifically, forty homestead smallholder fish farmers have been profiled under the Adamawa State Fish Farmers Union, facilitating improved organization and support for their ventures. Furthermore, ADAS-P, in collaboration with Aquatic Hub Afrique, has led the development of the Adamawa State Aquaculture Business Strategy, laying the foundation for long-term growth within the aquaculture sector.
Forestry: Sustainable Practices for a Greener Future
ADAS-P is actively advancing forestry initiatives, fostering sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping and environmental conservation. Specifically, beekeeping has been promoted as a viable agribusiness in partnership with ANI, Slow Food Nigeria Network, and the Beekeeping Association of Nigeria. Furthermore, in Mayo-Belwa LGA, 540 beekeepers have been organized to supply honey, wax, and venom products to off-takers in Lagos, generating new income opportunities. Additionally, a workshop for key stakeholders was hosted to share strategies for implementing climate-smart agriculture practices, reinforcing ADAS-P's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Cross-Cutting Initiatives: Strengthening Financial Access and Institutional Support
Beyond specific agricultural subsectors, ADAS-P is driving broader initiatives to enhance financial inclusion, empower rural institutions, and create an enabling business environment.
Twelve Markets across Adamawa State were upgraded under the ADAS Programme to promote agribusiness. The upgraded markets include Mubi grains and livestock markets, Gombi livestock market, and Song cattle market, Toungo Grains Market, Ganye Livestock Market, Ngurore Cattle Market and others. The projects included constructing standard drainage systems, sand-filling, provision of water, fencing, security offices, veterinary clinics, and loading bays at the selected markets.
| Grain | Livestock | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mubi Grains Market - Sabo | Mubi International livestock market |
| 2 | Mubi Grains Market – Dole | Ganye Livestock Market |
| 3 | Toungo Grain Market | Ngurore Livestock Market |
| 4 | Ganye Grains Market | Song Cattle Market |
| 5 | Tingno Grains Market | Chigari Livestock Market |
| 6 | Gurin Grains Market | |
| 7 | 5. Gombi Grains Market |
In its financial and market facilitation efforts, ADAS-P has profiled a total of 120 enterprises, with 43 credit guarantee covers processed under the Warehouse Financing Scheme to support livestock and crop trading through the ADAS Credit Guarantee Scheme. Furthermore, a sustainable financing model has been developed, stakeholders have been identified, and a State Committee has been inaugurated to oversee implementation across various subsectors. Additionally, trade fairs and exhibitions have been facilitated, providing platforms for agro-processed products to reach wider markets.
ADAS-P has broadened the reach of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) across more Local Government Areas, and a state-level Apex Adamawa Agribusiness Cooperative Financing Agency (ADACFA) has been launched to enhance grassroots financial inclusion and provide improved oversight. Furthermore, high-level advocacy visits and engagements with Emirates, Chiefdoms, and District Heads have been conducted to secure community support for ADAS-P's agricultural initiatives. Women entrepreneurs in agro-processing have received support in branding and product packaging, and have been sponsored to participate in the North East Trade Fair in Bauchi, promoting economic empowerment. The offices of ADAS-P LGA Implementation Committees have been renovated to improve coordination and service delivery, and security arrangements have been implemented for 12 upgraded markets across the state. Finally, engagement meetings have been held with key state ministries, including those responsible for Livestock and Aquaculture, Agriculture (Seed Technology), and Environment and Forestry (Climate-Smart Agriculture Value Chain Development), to align policies and strengthen inter-sector collaboration.
ADAS-P is more than just an agricultural program—it is a movement that is shaping the future of agribusiness in Adamawa State. With each milestone, the program is bringing farmers closer to sustainable livelihoods, markets, and financial opportunities. As ADAS-P continues to evolve, the goal remains clear: a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient agricultural sector for all.