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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Federal Government has commenced full implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to boost food production, strengthen food security and grow the economy.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Monday at the opening of the second annual Community of Practice meeting of commissioners responsible for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, health, environment, commerce and rural development in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Kyari said Nigeria had developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to domesticate the Kampala CAADP Agenda 2026–2035, while expanding all-season production through irrigation and improved access to quality seeds.
He said the government was also supporting national agricultural research institutes and strengthening the application of research findings to practical farming challenges.
Explaining the importance of Nigeria’s participation, Kyari said: “For a country of Nigeria’s scale, the choices we make in agriculture have consequences beyond our borders, for regional markets, Africa’s wider agrifood transformation and Nigeria’s place in the global food economy.”
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He said the agenda prioritises sustainable food production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance, adding that the Community of Practice provides a mechanism for translating its objectives into action at the subnational level.
In a goodwill message, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr. Karin Jansen, said the meeting’s theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria,” reflected the cooperation required to transform agrifood systems in Nigeria and across Africa.
“No institution and no level of government can do this alone. Progress depends on strong cooperation between the Federal Government and the states, and on the active participation of non-state actors,” she said. Jansen said Germany welcomed Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the Kampala agenda and was supporting its implementation through stronger agricultural policy processes, expansion of successful approaches and greater civil society participation.
Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by his deputy, said the meeting was important because it brought together policymakers, agricultural experts, researchers, farmers, private-sector actors and development partners.
He pledged Borno State’s support and collaboration towards implementing the agenda and increasing food production.
