Agric Minister Says Proactive Policies Will Boost Agrifood Production
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has said that proactive policies in the agricultural sector would unlock sustainable food systems to safeguard the climate, restore soil and ecosystems, boost production as well as secure dignified livelihoods for Nigerian Farmers.
The Minister made the disclosure at the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Forum of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Rome, Italy, recently.
At the High-Level Event themed: Unlocking Sustainable Agrifood Systems for Climate, Nature, and Livelihoods, Kyari recalled that ‘’In 2022, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, previously known as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, established a partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the Monitoring and Analyzing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) Programme.”
The collaboration, he emphasized, enabled FAO to conduct extensive policy analyses, which have significantly informed the nation’s agricultural policymaking.
The Minister stated that Nigeria is spearheading a national initiative to create a climate-resilient, nature-positive food system, in line with various national policies, adding that current strategies include distributing improved seeds, promoting sustainable soil management, increasing food production, and expanding agroforestry.
In a statement by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the Ministry’s Head of Information Department, Kyari highlighted that ‘’the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) aims to enhance agricultural investments, boost agrifood production, create jobs, alleviate poverty, and make healthy diets more affordable. At the same time, it seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood production and promote reforestation’’.
The Minster revealed that Nigeria’s forthcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) aims to align climate commitments with inclusive agricultural transformation, noting that key priorities include: scaling climate-smart agriculture for crops and horticulture, restoring degraded lands through sustainable practices, promoting regenerative agriculture and agroecology, as well as empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, with essential resources.
Building on these priorities, he stressed, “Nigeria has advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which integrates adaptation priorities into agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure, with a strong focus on community-led solutions and ecosystem-based approaches’’.
Kyari pointed out that ‘’Nigeria is positioning itself under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, creating enabling policies and market mechanisms for carbon trading and results-based finance. By leveraging carbon credits from climate-smart agriculture, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, Nigeria aims to attract additional investment while supporting smallholder farmers’’.
According to him, the development partnership projects enhancing the sector’s resilience includes; the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), and the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pockets (NAGS-AP).
The Minister acknowledged that additional funding is crucial to develop climate-resilient crops and implement sustainable agricultural practices, addressing the significant challenges posed by climate change and ensuring food security for all nations.
He urged all stakeholders to take action, emphasizing the need for coherent national strategies that integrate climate objectives with agricultural development, supported by catalytic finance and policy reform. He also called on international financial institutions, including IFAD, FAO, and GEF, to increase concessional and blended financing, share risks, and support high-impact programs benefiting smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Kyari expressed gratitude for the technical support from FAO and IFAD through the Global Environment Facility’s Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), noting that the global initiative not only benefits Nigeria but also fosters international knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and innovation. He emphasized that such collaboration is crucial for transforming food systems toward sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness.
