Bill Gates ear-marks $6m for cassava and rice in Nigeria

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has earmarked $6m to support Nigeria’s push for food sustenance through the produc­tion of rice and cas­sava. This was disclosed at the inauguration of the State Partnership for Agriculture by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Foundation. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Di­rector, Bill and Melin­da Gates Foundation, James Nyoro said the move is to enable Ni­geria move from im­porter to exporter of food. He disclosed that Kaduna, Benue and Kogi states have been picked to pilot the project.

This was disclosed at the inauguration of the State Partnership for Agriculture by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Foundation.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Di­rector, Bill and Melin­da Gates Foundation, James Nyoro said the move is to enable Ni­geria move from im­porter to exporter of food.

He disclosed that Kaduna, Benue and Kogi states have been picked to pilot the project.

“For us at the Bill and Melinda Founda­tion, the programme is going to be a catalytic in helping the Nige­rian government to achieve IRS vision for food security, reduce food imports and in­crease agriculture pro­ductivity so that they can raise many mil­lions of Nigerians out of poverty.

“Therefore, one of the areas we are going to help is state part­nership because we do know that action takes place at the state level. That is where in­novations are tested, whether you are talk­ing about cassava pro­cessing and marketing or whether you are talking about rice.