Nigeria, Alliance for Green Revolution Renew Push For Inclusive, Climate-resilient Agriculture

RAYMOND OKOBIA

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) have renewed their commitment to building a productive, inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural sector.

They made the commitment at a high-level convening in Abuja on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, marking AGRA’s 20 years of partnership with Nigeria.

The event brought together government officials, development partners, private-sector leaders, research institutions and grassroots advocates to discuss the future of Nigeria’s food system.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria’s food systems must respond to population growth and climate change through increased productivity and climate-smart agriculture.

Kyari also called for greater mechanisation and sustainable financing to strengthen the sector.

“As we celebrate AGRA’s two decades of impact, we must recognise that the future of food systems is shaped by population growth and climate realities.

“The next chapter demands an uncompromising focus on rapid productivity delivery, climate-smart agriculture, farm mechanisation and robust financing structures from the boardroom to the farm gate,” he said.

The minister stressed the need to recognise smallholder farmers, women and youths as drivers of innovation and commercial agriculture rather than mere beneficiaries.

He said the priorities would shape Nigeria’s contribution to the forthcoming Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

Kyari said AGRA had, since 2006, partnered with the Federal Government, state governments and private-sector actors to strengthen seed systems, improve access to agricultural inputs and expand market linkages.

He said the partnership had also promoted commercially viable farming across the country.

Also, Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA Nigeria Country Director, said the organisation’s collaboration with Nigeria was based on the conviction that empowering smallholder farmers was central to national development.

“AGRA was built as an alliance because no single entity can transform Africa’s food systems alone.

“Over the past 20 years, our work in Nigeria has been guided by one absolute conviction; when African farmers prosper, the entire nation prospers,” he said.

Also, Mr. Edwin Aguadda, Agric Services Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, said the company’s STREFAS project, supported by AGRA, was helping 25,000 farmers adopt regenerative and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Aguadda attributed progress in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to collaboration among government, development partners, research institutions and the private sector.

A representative of the African Development Bank, Bashir Ibrahim, stressed the need for stronger seed systems, wider access to inputs and greater climate resilience.

Dr, Adeseko Adekunle of the National Agricultural Seed Council and Nasarawa State Commissioner, Umaru Tunga, also advocated the use of certified seeds and stronger federal-state collaboration.

Ms. Lois Auta, Founder and President, Network of Disabled Women in Nigeria, called for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in agricultural policies, capacity-building programmes and investments.

She urged stakeholders to deliberately integrate farmers with disabilities, including young agripreneurs, into agricultural transformation initiatives.

On her part, Juliette Lampoh-Agroh, AGRA Nigeria Country Programme Lead, said food systems transformation required sustained collaboration among stakeholders.

She said Nigeria had the potential to drive agricultural transformation across Africa by translating policies into tangible benefits for farmers.