Proactive policies in agric sector will unlock agrifood system —Kyari
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has reiterated the country’s commitment to building climate-smart and sustainable food systems that enhance production, restore degraded ecosystems, and support dignified livelihoods for farmers.
Speaking at the UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance Forum in Rome, the Minister noted that Nigeria is aligning its agricultural transformation with global climate objectives. He highlighted:
- Ongoing distribution of improved seeds and adoption of climate-smart technologies.
- Expansion of sustainable soil management, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture.
- Rollout of the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) to boost investments, jobs, and affordable diets while reducing emissions.
- Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and forthcoming NDC 3.0, which integrate adaptation priorities with inclusive agrifood systems.
- Efforts to leverage Article 6 carbon trading for results-based finance to scale climate-smart agriculture and afforestation.
He also pointed to flagship projects like SAPZ, VCDP, LIFE-ND, RAAMP, and NAGS-AP as building resilience, while calling for expanded concessional financing from IFAD, FAO, GEF, and other partners.
Source: Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Nigeria’s presentation at this global platform reflects a shift from rhetoric to structured strategy in its agrifood-climate agenda. Several insights stand out:
- Strategic Alignment with Global Finance – Positioning Nigeria under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement opens a pathway for carbon credits, a potential multi-billion-naira revenue stream if properly structured. However, credibility in monitoring and verification will be critical.
- Bridging Policy and Practice – While frameworks like NASIP and NAP are ambitious, the challenge remains in translating policies into state-level and community-led actions. Stronger coordination across federal and sub-national levels is essential.
- Gender and Youth as Leverage Points – Prioritizing women and youth farmers is not just a social inclusion strategy; it is a productivity multiplier, as these groups are central to Nigeria’s smallholder-driven food system.
- Private Sector Entry Point – The government’s climate-smart vision will need private sector participation for scale—particularly in seed systems, carbon markets, and regenerative farming solutions.
- Sustainability vs. Urgency – While the long-term focus on soil health, reforestation, and carbon trading is commendable, Nigeria must also manage short-term food price shocks and farmer vulnerabilities, balancing immediate food security with sustainability goals.
- Funding Gaps – Nigeria has articulated the right mix of policies, but access to catalytic finance remains the bottleneck. Blended finance models that de-risk private investments are vital to bridge the gap.
Conclusion
Nigeria is emerging as a thought leader on agrifood-climate integration in Africa. But its global credibility will rest on how quickly it can demonstrate visible impacts at home—improved yields, resilient farmer livelihoods, and measurable climate benefits.
