The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has expressed his readiness to partner with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to strengthen food security in the country.
Kyari stated this when the Country Representative of IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue, visited him on Wednesday in Abuja, a statement by Mrs Anthonia Eremah, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, said.
“Since 1985, IFAD has been Nigeria’s trusted partner for reducing rural poverty.
“President Bola Tinubu is committed to his Renewed Hope Agenda to implement programs and policies that will enhance food security, job creation and poverty eradication.
“To achieve these, the President declared a state of emergency on food security,” the minister said.
He thanked IFAD for its support and opportunities presented to the country, saying that Nigeria was faced with challenges, and that the door was open for contributions and assistance to ensure food availability for the populace.
Kyari said four out of the eight point agenda of President Tinubu was devoted to food security.
The minister said that the ministry had a critical role to play to achieve the agenda, adding that the country’s agricultural yield was low due to insecurity, flood and climate change.
He stressed that the country needed all the assistance it could muster from its international partners.
In her remark, Ekoue expressed delight with the cooperation between the ministry and IFAD at different fora as well as the country’s commitment towards food security.
She recalled that Nigeria’s cooperation with IFAD dated back to 1985 with support to small-holder farmers, which gave rise to food security.
Ekoue said her visit was to renew IFAD’s commitment to food security, adding that it had developed a new cooperation strategy that would guide its investment and cooperation.
She said that opportunities available to Nigeria included strengthening technology and mechanization, strengthening women participation, integrating animal husbandry and strengthening the private sector contributions to food systems, among others.
