jamal 
BY AMUDA GBEMISOLA EUNICE
The Nigerian government is partnering with the Nigeria Women in Agriculture Progressive Development Initiative (NWAPDI) to empower smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, by connecting them directly to markets through a new digital and physical trade infrastructure.
The initiative, called the Sovereign AgroTrade System (SAS), was officially unveiled at a summit in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, the SAS is a critical step in transforming agriculture from a subsistence-based activity to a profitable one.
The system, which includes tools like the AgriXchange Marketplace and NWAPDI Grow, aims to eliminate the need for middlemen, giving farmers better access to national and international markets.
The minister, who was represented by his special adviser, Mr. Mohammed Jobdi, noted that the platform will provide rural farmers with tools to access microloans, cooperative financing, and mobile payments.
This, he said, is a new form of financial inclusion that brings banking services directly to the farmers. He praised NWAPDI for the initiative and stated the government is committed to creating a supportive environment for the system to thrive.
Omolara Svensson, NWAPDI’s National Coordinator, echoed these sentiments, stating that SAS is not just a technological tool but a promise to help farmers move from subsistence to prosperity.
She described the platform as a bridge linking farms to markets, farmers to finance, and communities to global opportunities.
