FAO launches food, agriculture policy monitoring review
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), has unveiled the 2025 Nigeria Food and Agriculture Policy Monitoring Review (PMR) in Abuja.
The initiative, anchored under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), seeks to provide evidence-based insights that will guide Nigeria’s agricultural reforms, public spending priorities, and investment decisions.
Developed through FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme, the PMR presents an in-depth review of agricultural expenditure patterns and commodity price incentives, spotlighting both opportunities and systemic challenges in Nigeria’s agri-food sector.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the findings would shape the country’s 2026 budget cycle, adding that credible data was critical for targeted investment and impactful reforms.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Hussein Gadain, described the PMR as a “landmark tool” that strengthens FAO–Nigeria collaboration in achieving inclusive growth, improved food security, and sustainable agricultural transformation.
The report highlights critical gaps, such as Nigeria’s low agricultural expenditure—just 2% of federal spending, far below the 10% continental benchmark set in the Kampala Declaration. It also shows mixed outcomes across value chains: while rice has benefited from protective policies that boosted producer prices, crops like maize and sorghum remain disadvantaged by weak market integration and restrictive trade barriers. Export commodities such as cocoa and cashew continue to face bottlenecks linked to poor quality control, high logistics costs, and exchange rate misalignments.
FAO’s Deputy Director of Agrifood Economics and Policy, Dr. Marco Sanchez, who leads the MAFAP programme, emphasized that the PMR recommendations are designed to align with Nigeria’s national priorities and stakeholder input.
Among its key recommendations are: balancing long-term investments with short-term productivity gains, improving trade and value chains, streamlining export procedures, and aligning sectoral reforms with broader macroeconomic policies.
Source: Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The launch of the 2025 Nigeria PMR is a timely intervention for a country at a crossroads in its food security and agricultural transformation agenda. Its findings provide both a reality check and a roadmap for stakeholders.
- Public Investment Gaps
With agriculture receiving just 2% of federal expenditure, Nigeria falls well short of its regional commitments. Without closing this gap, aspirations for agricultural transformation will remain underfunded. Stakeholders must advocate for more strategic, ring-fenced funding tied to measurable outcomes. - Commodity-Specific Lessons
The contrasting fortunes of rice versus maize and sorghum underscore the importance of consistent, well-targeted policy. Rice producers benefited from protective measures, but the lack of integration for maize and sorghum highlights the danger of uneven policy application. Stakeholders in these value chains should push for harmonized trade and market reforms. - Export Competitiveness
Persistent issues in cocoa and cashew—quality control, logistics inefficiencies, and currency risks—continue to weaken Nigeria’s export potential. Investments in certification systems, storage infrastructure, and export facilitation will be essential to unlock global competitiveness. - Policy and Macroeconomic Alignment
The call to align sectoral policies with broader economic strategies is critical. Exchange rate volatility, trade restrictions, and inconsistent fiscal measures often undermine agricultural gains. Agri-food stakeholders should lobby for more coherence between trade, monetary, and agricultural policies. - Evidence-Based Reform
The PMR sets a new standard for policy monitoring and accountability. By embedding research-driven decision-making, Nigeria can ensure resources are allocated to high-impact areas and interventions are regularly adjusted to reflect evolving realities.
Conclusion
The 2025 PMR is not just a report; it is a tool for accountability and transformation. If its recommendations are acted upon, Nigeria can move from underperformance to resilience in food security and exports. For stakeholders, the opportunity lies in engaging actively with government, leveraging data-driven reforms, and aligning private investments with identified policy priorities.
