WOFAN-ICON-2 Project

The WOFAN ICON-2 Project is a transformative five-year initiative (2022–2027) funded by the Mastercard Foundation. It is designed to empower 675,000 young smallholder farmers and agripreneurs—80% of whom are women—across eight states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Focusing on four strategic agricultural value chains—rice, maize, groundnut, and sorghum—the project seeks to improve livelihoods, promote financial inclusion, and remove gender-related barriers that limit youth and women in agriculture. By collaborating with community-based networks and local stakeholders, ICON-2 elevates youth voices and fosters inclusive development.

At the heart of the project is a strong emphasis on technology adoption, youth engagement, and safeguarding principles, ensuring that all interventions promote safety, dignity, and long-term sustainability. The WOFAN ICON-2 Project is more than an agricultural program—it’s a bold step toward reducing poverty, building resilience, and driving sustainable agricultural transformation in Nigeria.

Implementation Progress in Adamawa State (2022–2025)

Over a three-year period, Farm Innovation has led the implementation of the WOFAN ICON-2 Project in Adamawa State with a strong focus on inclusion, empowerment, and agricultural growth.

Between 2022 and 2025, a total of 100 extension workers were engaged—33 in 2022, 33 in 2023, and 34 in 2024. Each extension worker was responsible for onboarding 480 community partners (80% farmers and 20% processors), bringing the total number of farmers reached to 45,000 across three years. Of these, 80% were women, 20% men, and 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), all within the target youth age bracket of 18 to 35 years.

The project strategically focused on rice and maize value chains, which are dominant in Adamawa State. Implementation was carried out across eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in phases:

  • 2022-23: Gombi and Hong LGAs
  • 2023-24: Girei, Demsa, and Yola South LGAs
  • 2024-25: Mubi North, Mubi South, and Song LGAs

This phased and inclusive approach has allowed Farm Innovation to deliver targeted, impactful agricultural support to youth and women farmers in rural communities across the state.

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