The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on stakeholders in West Africa’s agriculture and finance sectors to adopt strategic financing mechanisms to promote agroecology and organic agriculture in the region.
Speaking at the Regional Forum on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture in West Africa, held in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasized the importance of these efforts to ensure food and nutrition security and food sovereignty across West Africa. The forum, themed “Financing the Transformation of Sustainable Food and Nutrition Systems for Food Sovereignty in West Africa,” was organized by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with other regional organizations.
Kyari, represented by Ibrahim Tanimu, the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), highlighted the crucial need for financing strategies to support sustainable agriculture practices. He stressed the importance of addressing financial barriers, particularly those related to economic and fiscal policies, to develop a resilient food system for the region.
He also urged stakeholders to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to promote regional and global trade in organic agriculture, while ensuring sustainable resource management for soil health, biodiversity, and environmental protection.
The minister acknowledged the role of multilateral agencies and donors in funding agroecological projects but noted that national budget allocations for agriculture remain below the 10% target set by the 2014 Malabo Declaration. However, the 2024 budget reflects a 59% increase toward meeting this goal.
The forum brought together representatives from ECOWAS, the European Union, West African ministries, and various agricultural and financial organizations to collaborate on creating a sustainable food system for the region.
