The Nigerian Government has identified accelerated productivity, increased private-sector investment, and greater inclusion as key priorities for the next phase of agricultural transformation in West Africa.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said West African leaders must speed up efforts to build a more productive and resilient food system which he said is critical to achieving the scale of transformation in the region.
For millions of West Africans, the rising cost of food is a daily reminder of the challenges facing the Region’s agricultural sector.
From high production costs to insecurity, climate change and limited access to finance, farmers are under increasing pressure to produce more and earn a sustainable income.
Regional bodies say, addressing these challenges requires a new approach driven by productivity, private investment and greater inclusion.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, identified climate-smart agriculture, increased private-sector investment and greater participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities as key priorities.
He commended the West African bodies for interventions spanning seeds, soil health, markets, finance and policy systems, adding that more than 2.53 million farmers have been reached across Nigeria.
But beyond the numbers, stakeholders from across ECOWAS region say one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that farmers have the knowledge and support needed to turn agricultural potential into increased production in the region.
They say weak extension services remain a major constraint, stressing that farmers need better access to finance, markets, and improved agricultural practices.
With food demand rising and pressures on farmers increasing, stakeholders believe that strengthening these areas will be critical to moving West African agriculture beyond subsistence farming and towards a more commercially viable and resilient food system.
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(Editor..Roluke Ogundele)
