Irrigation is Critical Enabler for Sahel’s Agricultural Transformation – Agric Minister<\/p>\n
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has emphasized the need for strategic investment in water and irrigation infrastructure in the Sahel region to transform subsistence farming into a thriving business-oriented enterprise.<\/p>\n
The investment, he said, would catalyze higher yields, improve nutrition through diversified crops and ensure job creation in the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
The Minister who stated this during the Regional Hand-in-Hand Initiative Forum for the Sahel, held in Abuja recently, called for a more strategic partnership that aligns with national plans and provides concessional financing as well as technical assistance for large-scale, transboundary water projects.<\/p>\n
Emphasizing the need for robust collaboration, he added, \u2018\u2019Fellow Ministers and leaders from the Sahelian region, Let us harmonize policies and share best practices and investment in water and irrigation infrastructure as the foundation for agricultural transformation and food security in the Sahel region\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019Partner with us to develop irrigation infrastructure, modernize processing facilities, and bring innovation and technology to fields. The returns will be measured not only in profit, but in prosperity and stability for generations to come\u2019\u2019, he added.<\/p>\n
In a statement by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of the Ministry’s Information Department, Kyari stated that Sahelian governments would create the enabling environment through progressive policies, land tenure reforms, infrastructure development, and incentives that de-risk the sector for private investment.<\/p>\n
According to him, \u2018\u2019the FAO\u2019s Hand-in-Hand Initiative provides the essential bridge we need. It offers a country-led, evidence-based, and matchmaking platform that connects national priorities and proven potential with the right investors and strategic partners\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019This initiative is singularly focused on accelerating progress by facilitating partnerships that work. It is a collective tool to move from identification of problems to the implementation of bankable, scalable solutions.\u2019\u2019 The Minister stressed<\/p>\n
He appealed to distinguished leaders of the private sector. “You are the engine of growth. We7 invite you to look at the Sahel not as a zone of risk but as the next frontier of opportunity.”<\/p>\n
The FAO-convened Forum brought together Regional Ministers, Development Partners, coursework Financial Institutions, and Private Sector Leaders to chart a new course for sustainable agriculture in the Sahel.<\/p>\n
The Region comprises Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Gambia, Central African Republic, and Cameroon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Irrigation is Critical Enabler for Sahel’s Agricultural Transformation – Agric Minister Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has emphasized the need for strategic investment in water and irrigation infrastructure in the Sahel region to transform subsistence farming into a thriving business-oriented enterprise. The investment, he said, would catalyze higher yields, improve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":148625,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[288,243,18],"tags":[244,2313,2314,1941],"class_list":{"0":"post-148624","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-africa","8":"category-agriculture","9":"category-news","10":"tag-agriculture","11":"tag-irrigation","12":"tag-sahel-region","13":"tag-sen-abubakar-kyari"},"yoast_head":"\n