In a concerted effort to combat food insecurity, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari has expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to bolster food security within the nation.
This commitment was conveyed during a courtesy visit to Kyari’s office by the country representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Nigeria (IFAD), Mrs. Dede Ekoue.
Sen. Kyari emphasised IFAD’s longstanding partnership with Nigeria in the fight against rural poverty since 1985. He highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to implement programs and policies fostering food security, job creation and poverty eradication. To achieve these objectives, President Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on food security.
Kyari expressed his gratitude to IFAD for its support and the opportunities it has extended to Nigeria. He acknowledged the challenges facing the country, including insecurity, flooding and climate change, and welcomed contributions and assistance to ensure food availability for the population.
Highlighting the significance of food security in the national agenda, Kyari pointed out that four of the eight-point agenda of the Tinubu administration are devoted to food security, underscoring the critical role of the ministry in achieving these goals.
Furthermore, he stressed the need for capacity building in IFAD programmes, coupled with a well-designed exit strategy to ensure sustainability.
In response, IFAD’s country representative, Mrs. Dede Ekoue expressed her satisfaction with the ministry’s cooperation with IFAD on various fronts and the country’s dedication to food security. She recalled IFAD’s collaboration with Nigeria dating back to 1985, particularly in supporting smallholder farmers, which has contributed significantly to food security.
Ekoue’s visit aimed to reaffirm IFAD’s commitment to food security in Nigeria. She mentioned IFAD’s development of a new cooperation strategy to guide its investments and partnerships. Furthermore, Ekoue outlined numerous opportunities available to Nigeria, including the enhancement of technology and mechanization, greater involvement of women, the integration of animal husbandry, the strengthening of private sector contributions to food systems, among others.
