The Minister of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has commended the government of The Gambia for its initiative to partner with Nigeria in efforts to enhance food production, strengthen agricultural systems and promote economic growth across the region.
Kyari made this commendation when he received a high-level Gambian delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr. Dembal Sabally during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja recently.
The Nigerian Minister described the visit as timely and strategic, noting that the current administration has faced significant challenges in achieving food sufficiency but has made remarkable progress through deliberate policies and partnerships with key development partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank.
He recalled that when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, he demonstrated a strong commitment to tackling food insecurity head-on. This resolve led to the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security and the renaming of the ministry from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, a clear signal of government’s dedication to ensuring food sovereignty.
“Mr. President made it very clear from the outset that we must achieve food security and food sovereignty. This directive has driven us to upscale our efforts in boosting local production and building resilience against external shocks such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating impact of flooding,” Kyari said.
He disclosed that, under this renewed focus, the ministry has invested over N200 billion in targeted interventions and has distributed free fertilisers worth more than NGN 2,150,000 to support farmers nationwide.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a viable business, Kyari stressed the importance of mechanisation in making farming attractive to young Nigerians. He pointed out that many youths shy away from agriculture due to the laborious nature of traditional farming.
“We have immense potential within our youth population, but the drudgery in agriculture discourages them. Mechanisation is key to reversing this trend and creating jobs,” he added.
Speaking on crop production, the minister noted impressive milestones, especially in rice and wheat cultivation. He explained that Nigeria has significantly advanced its wheat research capacity, eliminating the need for imported seeds.
“In 2023, we assisted farmers with imported wheat seeds, but by the following year, we were able to produce our seeds locally and cultivated nearly 500 metric tonnes of wheat through our research institutes and agencies under the ministry,” he revealed.
While acknowledging progress, Kyari admitted that challenges remain, particularly with rice affordability and availability, a priority the President has tasked the Ministry to resolve. He underscored the success of the out-grower scheme, which connects small-scale farmers with long-term financing and market access.
“The out-grower scheme has changed the face of agriculture for our farmers. It addresses key challenges because it offers smallholder farmers access to short-term financing between planting and harvest, usually within four to five months,” he said.
In his remarks, Sabally expressed his government’s deep appreciation for Nigeria’s warm reception and technical openness. He extended gratitude to Tinubu for his unwavering support towards African agricultural collaboration.
Sabally acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in achieving near self-sufficiency in rice production, a goal that still eludes Gambia, which continues to import over 80 per cent of its rice needs, straining its economy.
He disclosed that his delegation had visited Kebbi State to study Nigeria’s rice value chain firsthand, from irrigation systems to large-scale milling operations. He said the knowledge gained would be replicated back home to boost Gambia’s domestic rice production.
“What stood out for us is Nigeria’s success with the out-grower scheme, post-harvest handling, mechanisation, quality seeds, packaging, and the entire rice trade ecosystem. We believe adopting this model will help Gambia achieve rice self-sufficiency faster,” Sabally stated.
He appealed for technical assistance, requesting that Nigeria designate a ‘Rice Ambassador’ to support Gambia’s efforts to replicate the lessons learned.
A statement issued by the ministry’s director of information signed by Anthonia Eremah noted that the visit also featured the formal presentation of key policy documents, including the National Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the National Agricultural Policy Implementation Plan (NAPTIP) 2022–2027, as well as a commemorative plaque to Sabally.
The event was witnessed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi; Permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, senior officials from The Gambia, directors within the Nigerian ministry and representatives of development partners supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
