Over 65,000 Farmers Benefit From PIND’s Agric Initiative
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), on Tuesday, released its 2023 Annual Report to showcase its strategic investments in peacebuilding and economic empowerment in the Niger Delta.
According to the report, the foundation said that its initiatives led to the creation of over 14,600 new jobs and significantly boosted agricultural productivity, directly benefiting over 65,000 farmers and small businesses.
It stated that the organization’s peacebuilding investment had over 1,200 peace actors trained and 108 conflicts mitigated, ensuring a more stable and secure Niger Delta region.
“The impact of PIND’s work is perhaps best illustrated by the lives it has transformed. Among the many success stories in 2023, the journey of a smallholder cassava farmers group from Delta State stands out.
“Among the thousands of beneficiaries is a woman who struggled to provide for her family due to low yields and limited market access. Her life changed when she joined a PIND-supported cooperative.
“With training in modern farming techniques and access to improved seed varieties, her cassava yield doubled within a year. Today, this woman, like many others, does not only feed her family but also sends her children to school and saves for the future’’, the Report stated.
It added that PIND’s Market Systems Development project significantly supported smallholder farmers and businesses through N13.79bn in public and private sector investments, adding that the efforts led to the creation of over 14,600 jobs in the agro-allied and renewable energy sectors.
“PIND’s dedication to improving lives also extends to healthcare. In partnership with the private sector, PIND provided renewable energy solutions to 12 off-grid healthcare facilities, ensuring continuous power supply for life-saving medical equipment.
“The impact was immediate and life-changing, especially for medical personnel in Bayelsa State, who no longer worry about power outages during surgeries. For doctors and patients, this investment has meant the difference between life and death during critical surgeries.
“The communities served by PIND’s programs are among the most vulnerable in Nigeria, often overlooked by larger development efforts. By investing in these communities, PIND is addressing the root causes of poverty and conflict, fostering environments where peace and prosperity can take root.
“As PIND approaches the end of its third strategic phase, the organization is poised for a new era of greater impact. As PIND continues to explore new avenues for impact. PIND is raising a $75m blended finance facility and a $5m technical assistance (TA) sidecar facility to support these efforts’’, the Report stated further.
Over 65,000 Farmers Benefit From PIND’s Agric Initiative is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
