The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says it will implement a 50-million-dollar (N6.3 billion) micro enterprises programme in Nigeria in December.

IFAD's Country Portfolio Manager, Hamed Hadara said in Abuja, the Fund would develop a new initiative for Nigeria that would run from 2008 to 2012. He told the News Agency of Nigeria that already, another 50-million-dollar community-based management programme had been executed in the Niger Delta region. “The programme is aimed at arresting youth restiveness in the area and encourage economic growth, development and peace,'' Hadara said.

He noted that IFAD had been collaborating with Nigeria in the last 18 years, with a mandate to fund projects that had to do with poverty eradication. Hadara said IFAD allocated 50 million dollars annually to fund projects in Nigeria, adding that three major programmes being implemented by the Fund from 2001-2007 had just been completed. He also said that IFAD recently approved another 27-million-dollar programme awaiting the endorsement of the Federal Government.

The portfolio manager declared: “Nutritional improvements through efforts focused on household food security, constitute an essential investment in human capital for a financing institution like IFAD.
“This will enhance people's welfare, increase productivity and contribute to the growth of the nation's economy.'' The issue of food insecurity, he added, was especially, important to Africa because FAO survey had indicated that of the 36 global hunger hotspots, 23 were in Africa.

“The growing population of Africa by three per cent per annum and the agricultural production decline in per capita terms calls for great concern,'' Hadara said. He noted that increased food supply alone could not enhance access to food by poorer or marginalised groups in society. According to him, measures to enhance food security alone will have limited effect on the nutritional wellbeing of individuals. Hadara, therefore, stressed the need for issues of food insecurity, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, as well as, inadequate education to be urgently addressed.

He urged IFAD, donor agencies and other stakeholders to assist governments in initiating policies, projects and programmes that would ensure improved food security at the household level.