The Federal Government has officially transitioned the $500 million World Bank-supported Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Programme (AGROW) from design to full implementation following the receipt of its final report on Tuesday.

?Receiving the report from the National Technical Working Group at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima emphasized that the initiative is designed to bridge the long-standing gap between rural farmers and national economic policy decisions.

He stressed that agriculture, which accounts for 23 percent of Nigeria's GDP and employs 34 percent of its workforce, remains central to the nation's food security, economic growth, and poverty reduction efforts.

?The $500 million programme was shaped through seven zonal consultations across 32 states, highlighting strong subnational commitment to agricultural reform. Under the financing structure, $355 million—representing 71 percent of the total fund—will be allocated directly to participating states to enhance extension services, infrastructure, technology, processing, and market access.

?Following the submission of the report, Vice President Shettima formally dissolved the Technical Working Group and handed over primary execution responsibilities to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which will host the Project Coordination Office alongside the National Steering Committee.

?Key stakeholders at the briefing expressed strong support for the initiative:

?Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, reiterated the commitment of subnational governments, with Kaduna noting that over 13 percent of its state budget is already dedicated to agriculture.

?Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, highlighted AGROW's critical role in driving macroeconomic stability and job creation.

?Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, confirmed that the ministry is moving swiftly into the final procedural stages, including financing agreements and legal frameworks.

?World Bank Programme Leader for AGROW, Ms. Bertine Kamphuis, reaffirmed the Bank's ongoing support, emphasizing the need for an enabling policy environment to attract further private sector investment.

?The technical design, coordinated by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit led by Ms. Marion Moon, utilized an eight-indicator agroecological framework to match investment strategies with local soil, climate, and crop conditions across the country.