The Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh (3rd Left) Minister of Environment Suleiman Zarma (4th Left), the FAOR Suffyan Koroma middle and other dignitaries present the CPF to the public

Abuja - The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a new 5-year strategic programming cycle, to assist the Government of Nigeria (GoN) develop the agriculture sector and ensure efficient management of the country’s natural resources.

The Country Programming Framework for Nigeria (CPF) 2018-2022, outlines five priority areas with the aim to assist in the implementation of the nation’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).  It also spells out a set of medium term support objectives and results as approved by the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF).

Areas of action are defined in consultation with government ministries, agencies and departments, as well as related stakeholders from academia, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and private sector. FAO also considered the development and humanitarian needs of the country, as contained in the various development strategies the government has put in place, like the Agriculture Promotion Plan (APP) and the Buhari Plan for (humanitarian relief and socioeconomic stabilization of) the Northeast.

 Under the CPF 2018 - 2022, FAO will bring together innovative, international best practices and global standards with national and international expertise during the five- year period. The priority areas include;

• Strengthening national food and nutrition security through enhanced nutrition sensitive and climate-smart food systems
• Supporting appropriate and operationally effective agricultural policy and regulatory frameworks
• Supporting Nigeria’s Economic Diversification Agenda and the promotion of decent employment for youth and women in the agriculture value chains
• Improving the efficient and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems
• Enhancing disaster risk reduction, resilience building and emergency management towards strengthening the Humanitarian-Development Nexus

According to the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Suffyan Koroma, the current document builds on the achievements of the previous programming cycle from 2013 to 2017, taking into account the emerging challenges of climate change, armed conflict and rising food prices.

“The CPF seeks to address the myriad of challenges involved in the rapid development of the agriculture sector. This document will guide FAO and its partners in ensuring the agriculture sector can address domestic needs, generate jobs and meets export standards, with the aim to grow the economy,’’ said Koroma.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh in his remarks during the launch of the CPF document, commended FAO’s support to the country especially in the formulation and implementation of agriculture development policies.

Ogbeh said the preservation and effective management of the country’s natural resources will help in mitigating the effects of climate change. “The technical expertise of FAO is always there to rely on to support the efforts of government but the people also have a responsibility, for instance not to cut down trees”

Collaborating this, the Minister of Environment Surveyor Suleiman Hassan Zarma said siltation of waterways, land degradation and deforestation as consequences of climate change are threats to national food and nutrition security, even as he commended FAO for the sustained support to the government of Nigeria in natural resource management.

The priorities of the CPF also align with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), Africa Union Agenda 2063, the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other related international strategic frameworks.

FAO’s support to the development of Nigeria’s agriculture sector   began in 1950s with targeted support missions to the West African nation. The Organization is celebrating 40 years of officially opening a country office in Nigeria.

Contacts:

David Tsokar

National Communication Officer

0806 616 2876

[email protected]

Patrina Pink

Communication and Outreach Officer

FAO Maiduguri Sub-Office 

Borno State, Nigeria

E-mail: [email protected]

Cellphone: 0805 126 5255