Nestlé Rewards Farmers For Regenerative Agriculture

Nestlé Nigeria has rewarded smallholder farmers with premium payments for adopting regenerative agricultural practices as part of efforts to promote climate resilience, restore degraded land and strengthen sustainable food production.

The initiative was recognised during the 2026 International Day of Desertification and Drought commemorations held in Zaria, Kaduna State, under the theme “Restoring Land. Rewarding Farmers. Building Resilience.”

The event was organised by TechnoServe Nigeria, with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Nestlé Nigeria, bringing together government officials, agricultural experts, development partners, agribusinesses and farmers.

Premium Payments Reward Sustainable Farming

Farmers from Kaduna and Nasarawa states who adopted regenerative farming practices during the 2025 planting season received financial incentives from Nestlé Nigeria.

The premium payments recognise producers implementing climate-smart farming methods that improve soil health, increase productivity and strengthen resilience against climate-related challenges such as drought, erratic rainfall and declining soil fertility.

STreFaS Project Promotes Climate-Smart Agriculture

The initiative forms part of the Strengthening Farmers and SMEs Resilience through Climate-Smart Grain Production (STreFaS) project, a three-year programme supporting thousands of smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.

The project promotes regenerative agricultural practices including:

• Minimum tillage
• Cover cropping
• Agroforestry
• Mulching
• Integrated pest management
• Soil testing
• Water conservation

These approaches are designed to restore degraded land, improve crop yields and increase farmers’ incomes while protecting natural resources.

Healthy Soils Key To Food Security

TechnoServe Nigeria said restoring soil health remains essential for sustainable agriculture and resilient rural livelihoods.

The organisation noted that the International Day of Desertification and Drought highlights the importance of reversing land degradation through practical farming solutions that improve productivity while conserving natural resources.

Through the STreFaS project, farmers are receiving technical support to adopt regenerative farming methods that strengthen both environmental sustainability and long-term agricultural production.

Nestlé Reaffirms Commitment To Sustainable Food Systems

Nestlé Nigeria said farmers play a central role in transforming the country’s agricultural sector through regenerative agriculture.

The company explained that its premium payment programme is designed to reward producers who actively improve soil health, restore degraded land and build more resilient farming systems.

Collaboration Needed to Combat Land Degradation

AGRA called for stronger collaboration among governments, development organisations, agribusinesses and farmers to accelerate land restoration across Nigeria.

The organisation noted that climate-smart agriculture continues to demonstrate its ability to improve productivity while restoring ecosystems, adding that sustained investment and coordinated action will be critical to achieving long-term agricultural resilience.

Regenerative Agriculture Creates New Agribusiness Opportunities

Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative highlights growing commercial opportunities across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

As demand for sustainable food production increases, regenerative agriculture is creating new prospects for agribusiness service providers, sustainable input suppliers, extension services and value-added food processors.

The programme also reinforces the role of incentive-based approaches in encouraging wider adoption of environmentally responsible farming practices while improving food security and supporting the long-term resilience of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.