AfDB Picks Oyo State for Landmark Sustainable Agriculture, Agrochemical Reduction Initiative
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has selected Oyo State as the pilot location for its new initiative, which aims to promote climate-resilient agriculture and reduce the country’s dependence on harmful agrochemicals.
The programme, known as the Financing Agricultural, Agro-Chemical Reduction and Management Plus (FARM+) project, underwent a baseline mission involving consultations with key stakeholders across the state.
The FARM+ project is designed to transform the state’s agricultural sector into a more sustainable, climate-resilient, and environmentally responsible system.
During the visit, the experts engaged key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to assess existing practices, identify gaps, and shape the project’s design before implementation
Speaking during the mission to Oyo state, the lead consultant, Mrs. Kiitan Oluwagbuyi, explained that the project is driven by concerns over widespread unsustainable farming practices, pesticide residues in food crops, and increasing environmental pollution caused by excessive agrochemical use.
She noted that many farmers continue to experience crop failures due to inadequate understanding of climate patterns, an issue the project seeks to tackle through training, support, and improved farm practices.
Oluwagbuyi identified persistent pesticide residues in food crops consumed locally and exported abroad as another major concern, adding that the misuse of agrochemicals has led to widespread soil and environmental pollution. She said the mission aims to understand challenges limiting farmers’ transition to organic and environmentally friendly methods and to design financial mechanisms that will support this shift.
She highlighted Oyo State as a strategic pilot location due to its agricultural capacity, vibrant farming communities, and established agro-processing hubs that serve as reliable off-take points. According to her, the AfDB considers Oyo a leading model for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in Nigeria.
“Our consultations across Oyo from IITA to Ajayi Crowther University Farm and the Agribusiness Transformation Center ( Fasola ) show clearly that the state has what it takes. The institutional structures, farmer readiness, and existing innovations all align with the FARM+ objectives,” she said.
She added that the success of the initiative would depend on ensuring that financial support reaches real farmers and that off-takers are fully integrated to sustain the value chain. She emphasised the need to promote an “organically farmed” label to boost market confidence and attract premium pricing for healthier produce.
Oluwagbuyi expressed optimism that with adequate collaboration, Oyo State would meet the requirements for the grant phase and further qualify for the second-phase loan component. She urged the government to strengthen institutional structures, counterpart contributions, and technical capacity to fully harness the benefits of FARM+.
Also speaking, another consultant, Ms. Iteoluwa Glory, said the project focuses on three core goals: advancing climate-resilient agriculture, reducing dependence on agrochemicals, and addressing pollution and pesticide residue in food systems. She explained that the initiative comprises five components, including a national policy and regulatory framework that will draw from lessons observed in Oyo.
She disclosed that directors from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Agriculture were part of the mission to examine what is working in Oyo State and identify successes that can be integrated into national agrochemical management regulations.
Glory further noted that the project seeks to incorporate finance, insurance, and investment components which have been missing in existing frameworks. She said the team expects the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS) to provide insights into its financing structure to guide appropriate support models.
During the mission, the team visited several institutions and agribusiness centres, including ACCOS, Nodumax Production Factory, Aflasafe Production Facility, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) Centre, Oyo State Agribusiness Information Centre (Fashola), Ajayi Crowther University Agricultural Farm, and agribusiness clusters across the state.
Earlier, while welcoming the team, the Director General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development AgencyAgribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, reaffirmed the state government’s strong commitment to supporting both small- and large-scale farmers.
Akande noted that the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), since beginning operations in Oyo State, signed its first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government under the current administration to further strengthen agricultural development.
He added that the government has placed significant focus on the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a Federal Government initiative designed to improve rural road networks, enhance farmers’ access to markets, and strengthen agricultural value chains across the state.
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