The Outgrow Hunger project was lunched on 16th October, 2020 towards addressing the negative impacts of Covid-19 pandemic which escalated the level of multidimensional hunger in Africa; and recorded incessant increase on the prices of foods items and consequently weak purchasing power. The project has immensely ameliorated the sufferings of the people.
The post COVID-19 hunger crisis in Africa remains severe; while addressing this, AANI is investing through the Outgrow Hunger project which was piloted across six (6) States in Nigeria comprising Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau, Ogun, Anambra and Rivers State, each in a geo-political zone of the country through advocacy against Hunger, Smallholder Farmers engagement and intervention funds supports; the pilot project has ameliorated the sufferings of the people by strengthening local food production, supply chains Supports to small-scale farmers with technology, credits supports, and public infrastructure, expanded social safety nets and nutrition as well as enhanced resilience against climate change and conflicts.
The full implementation phase of the project is ongoing where AANI is collaborating with relevant development agencies, the organized private sector, government at all levels, civil society organizations, among others, to ensure that hunger is reduced to the barest level.
As part of our modest efforts to confront youth unemployment head on, we are collaborating with the appropriate agencies towards building a sustainable farm settlements in rural communities, with integrated mechanized farming to include green house, poultry farms, fish ponds, plantations and as well processing the output into finished products via cottage industries/ food processing plants in clusters; with the assemblage of technical partners towards taking advantage of Public Private Partnership (PPP) drive on the project.
Transforming rural farm produce into a strong value chain is key to improving food security, increasing farmer incomes, and boosting economic growth. A well-developed agricultural value chain ensures that raw farm products move efficiently from production to processing, distribution, and consumption.
Here, we engage our Smallholder farmers to produce crops and livestock using innovative farming techniques, with access to quality seeds, fertilizers, pests and mechanization. Upon harvest, the raw materials are channeled into processing (e.g., milling grains, drying fruits, making dairy products) which increases shelf life and market value for higher profits, as well as reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food security and sustainability. This project creates access to markets that connect urban consumers and export merchants through a Digital platform that connect farmers directly to buyers.
AANI advocates for action against deforestation and carbon emissions by replacing wood and fossil fuel-based energy with renewables, in order to improve soil health by enabling climate-smart farming practices such as precision agriculture and organic farming while adopting Irrigation and Water Management System.
Our innovative Solar-powered irrigation systems help smallholder farmers access water efficiently, reducing dependence on erratic rainfall. We also, deploy Wind and Hydro-powered water pumps that provide sustainable water sources for crops and livestock.
AANI has consistently been involved in building the capacity of its farmers on Processing and Storage methods using Solar dryers that preserve fruits, vegetables, and grains, reducing post-harvest losses, including a well-designed renewable energy-powered cold storage that extends the shelf life of perishable goods, improving food security and reducing waste.
We have also introduced a Solar and biofuel-powered tractors and processing machines that reduce reliance on expensive and polluting diesel-powered equipment towards making the environment habitable for humanity.
AANI is committed to Electrification of farms that enables the use of modern tools for planting, harvesting, and processing.
On this project, we are excited because the local production and maintenance of solar panels, biogas plants, and wind turbines become the sources of employment to the teeming women and youth in our communities; these improved energy access also attracts agribusiness investments and supports rural economic growth.
Biogas for Farm Energy converts animal waste into biogas for cooking, electricity, and organic fertilizer, reducing dependence on firewood and fossil fuels.
Wind and Hydro-Powered Pumps Wind turbines and micro-hydro plants provide electricity for irrigation and processing.
Right-to-Food advocacy focuses on ensuring that all people have access to adequate, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. This right is recognized under international law, particularly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11). Advocacy in this area often involves:
Key Goals:
As part of our modest efforts to confront women and youth unemployment head on, we are collaborating with philanthropic individuals, organized private sectors, development partners and relevant government agencies in a collective effort to liberate humanity from Hunger and Poverty through the following programs:
A cluster of farm settlements and Agro Industrial Estate across the zones in Nigeria as a hub- to Food for food bank; to comprise animal husbandry and mechanized agriculture to Value Chain.
Our tradition is innovation, we mentor smallholder farmers to develop agric products and services; ranging from improved seedlings, organic fertilizers, nursery plant, hatchery, aquaponics, hydroponics and arable crops in commercial quantities.
In partnership with our Technical Partner- PATPA Nigeria, we provide Food Items and humanitarian support through our Feed a Child Initiative, Right to Food Campaign; Nutrition is Health, Nigeria! amongst others. These projects provide relief and financial support to beneficiaries targeting at women, youth and aged people in the rural communities.
In collaboration with PATPA Nigeria and other relevant partners; we provide Farm Education, Entrepreneurial Development and Financial Inclusion programs through workshops and symposium in different languages in Nigeria.
We do NOT just train but also provide access to funding, mentoring, monitoring and evaluation programs; towards enhancing knowledge-based approach to innovative agriculture.
As key player in the agricultural sector; we have a market network where product and services of our members/ partners can be sold and distributed across to where it is needed.
AANI Smallholder farmers’ aggregation network has millions of members in its data bank across 774 local government areas in Nigeria. Our goal is to attain the position of securing up to 10, 000 Hectares of Farmland in each local government area in the country; where its most comparative advantage crops will be cultivated for food sufficiency, while attaining to value chain and exports from the excess. This initiative is poised to support the government on its effort towards diversifying the economy from the mono cultural oil driven economy to the real sector economy.
All too often, youths have failed to key into the institutional framework/schemes rolled by the government and its agencies much to the regret of all. It is estimated that the tertiary institutions in our country, Nigeria, floats out about four hundred thousand graduates per annum, of which only ten percent obtain formal employment. What fate awaits the outstanding ninety percent or three hundred and sixty thousand graduates is anybody’s guess. The irony of this scenario is that agriculture and its value chain components have the capacity to address this challenge if properly harnessed. A Hausa adage says, “Noma tushen arziki” which translates that agriculture is the foundation of wealth. This is a truth we cannot contradict.
The objectives
The program broadly, shall be into two categories (category I and category II)
Category I shall be in form of farm settlement scheme/ Agro Industrial Estate: Under this structure, registered members shall be engaged as individuals or members of cooperative societies.
AANI is to partner with reputable technical partners (companies) who will be providing poultry estate, fish ponds, processing and other animal husbandry estates for the out growers and also residential housing scheme for the participants in line with value chain model.
These nominated companies have the capacity to access the Interventions/ Development funds to ensure project completion at specified time. The completed will be handed over to beneficiaries under repayment period of up to ten years at single and competitive interest rate.
