HortiNigeria is a four-year initiative designed to unlock Nigeria’s horticultural potential. Funded through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, the programme is led by the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) in close partnership with East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, Wageningen University & Research, and KIT Institute. Its goal is to improve food and nutrition security, strengthen vegetable value chains, and support the livelihoods of both smallholder and entrepreneurial farmers across four states: Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo.

HortiNigeria emerged from a 2021 scoping study by the Dutch Embassy, which identified Nigeria’s dual horticultural realities: a high production potential hindered by systemic inefficiencies, and a stark 13 million metric ton production deficit caused by low input access, weak extension services, and poor post-harvest infrastructure. The programme’s four focus states were selected based on their ecological suitability, population density, processing infrastructure, and previous donor investments - particularly in crops like tomato, onion, okra, and pepper. These diverse regions also serve as test beds for scalable models in agribusiness and inclusive innovation.

The programme is structured around four interlinked result areas. First, it initially set out to support 60,000 smallholder farmers - of which 40% are women and 50% youth - in Kaduna and Kano with training in eco-efficient, climate-smart practices, a target that has since been exceeded. Second, it pilots innovative production systems for 2,000 entrepreneurial farmers in Ogun and Oyo, focusing on diversification and regional supply. This dual structure reflects distinct agricultural dynamics: in the north, where farmers are often more informal and face literacy and land access constraints, interventions are geared toward foundational capacity-building and group-based extension. In the South, by contrast, activities cater to more commercially oriented actors and logistical links to urban markets.

Third, it enhances enabling environments through policy support, sector coordination, and targeted investments. These interventions are guided by a market-led approach that has so far mobilised over €4.1 million in finance and investment, while also contributing to national frameworks including the tomato policy, seed policy, organic agriculture policy, and a revised credit risk guarantee scheme. And for its fourth result area, the programme has built over 100 inclusive business linkages to connect producers with markets and improve offtake. 

The project’s achievements are substantial. HortiNigeria has trained over 70,000 farmers, leading to yield increases of 77% across key crops and farmer income gains of over 205%. It has supported the creation of 461 jobs and reduced post-harvest losses by 83% through improved handling, cold chain infrastructure, and market linkages. The programme has also advanced access to finance through partnerships with institutions like NIRSAL, introducing credit frameworks specific to horticulture and raising the credit risk guarantee on plastic crates from 30% to 50%. Women and youth have been central to these gains, with tailored approaches ranging from youth-led spray service models and agribusiness hubs, to seedling production and home gardening initiatives for women facing land access barriers.

This success is deeply rooted in strong partnerships and adaptive management. Collaboration with Dutch agribusinesses - including East-West Seed, Profyta, Rijk Zwaan, Enza Zaden, Syngenta, and Bakker Brothers - has strengthened technical training and demonstration efforts. Institutional networks such as the Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC), Afri Agri, and the Netherlands Consulate have played key roles in linking the programme to broader market and innovation ecosystems. The project’s monitoring and evaluation framework enables agile adjustments in response to real-time challenges and opportunities.

Enhanced Agribusiness Clusters and Entrepreneur Hubs in each state have emerged as vital platforms for connecting producers, processors, and agro-dealers. These hubs reflect a shift in agro-dealer roles - from product suppliers to trusted extension agents - helping address the shortcomings of Nigeria’s public extension system. The programme has demonstrated that holistic, ecosystem-driven growth is more impactful than isolated interventions.

Challenges have been considerable. Insecurity in the north required a shift in operations, while inflation and input cost surges strained adoption. The removal of fuel subsidies, limited land access for women, urban expansion into farmland, and high interest rates also impacted implementation. In response, HortiNigeria deployed digital tools, adapted extension strategies, and explored flexible financing models to maintain momentum. Systemic issues such as limited policy support and macroeconomic shocks have further emphasised the need for development strategies that account for structural constraints.

Lessons from HortiNigeria speak to the importance of local ownership, flexibility, and ecosystem-wide coordination. Co-creation with communities and support to both informal networks and formal institutions have proven essential. The programme also revealed promising trends: growing youth interest in agribusiness, especially in logistics and greenhouse production, and the pivotal role of women in processing and aggregation.

Looking ahead, HortiNigeria is preparing an exit strategy that includes scaling successful components - like youth agribusiness hubs - through private and donor support. Interest from other Nigerian states in replicating the model is rising, and the programme is increasingly seen as a viable blueprint for broader application in Nigeria and similar contexts. HortiNigeria is open to partnerships and knowledge exchanges as the program is winding up - welcoming collaboration with actors working on climate-smart agriculture, youth employment, and nutrition-sensitive interventions.