Food Security in Nigeria: FAOR a.i. visits new Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Abuja - The FAO representative ad interim (a.i.) in Nigeria and to ECOWAS Mr. Koffy Dominique Kouacou paid a courtesy call to the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in his office on Tuesday, to formally meet with the minister to familiarize and firm the existing partnership.
The FAOR a.i. was accompanied on the visit by the Assistant FAOR (Admin) and other staff of the organization. They were received at the ministry by the Senator Kyari in company of the Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security Senator Sabi Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Ernest Umakikhe and some Directors and heads of department.
Key issues discussed during this visit were the Presidential declaration of the State of Emergency on Food Security in the country, the realities of food security in the country, derived from the results of the Cadre Harmonise food security analysis usually conducted with other development partners in the country; the Hand in Hand Initiative, which is an FAO global initiative aiming to transform agrifood systems through partnership and investments, the new FAO Nigeria Country Program Framework (CPF) 2023 - 2027 designed across four pillars; as well as the upcoming world food day commemoration in October.
The Minister appreciated FAO technical expertise and expressed readiness to deepen the collaboration with FAO. He particularly noted that three out of the eight-point emphasized in the Renewed Hope Agenda by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu viz, Food Security, Jobs creation and Investments in agriculture would be require FAO technical expertise to realize.
He however noted the challenges posed by climate change effects, violent crises and seemingly unabating conflicts, high cost of farm inputs like fertilizer and quality assurance, low per Capita Gross Domestic Product as well as sustainability, to the development of the country.
The Minister informed the FAOR a.i. that the ministry is looking forward to FAO, to bring global approaches and best practices to support the administration in addressing these challenges.