FG to host agriculture, food summit – Minister

The Federal Government has announced plans to organise an agriculture and food security summit this year.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a meeting with Dr Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the summit aimed to bring together a diverse community of organisational partners and strategic stakeholders representing the public, private and social sectors.

Kyari said stakeholders would be committed  to innovation and new technologies for Inclusive Agri-Food System Transformation and Smallholder farmers’ empowerment.

He commended IFAD for being a formidable force in addressing unprecedented challenges facing the global food system.

“Nigeria is committed to working closely with IFAD on Inclusive Agri-Food System Transformation and Smallholder farmers’ empowerment.

“Also, our commitment to partnership with IFAD on Innovative Finance for Food System is evident in our participation in the United Nations Food System Stocktaking moment in July, 2023,” he said.

He expressed confidence that promoting Inclusive Agri-food system transformation, smallholder farmers’s empowerment and innovative financing was the way to go.

The minister assured IFAD of the federal government’s strong commitment to their multilateral partnership.

Earlier, Brown reiterated IFAD’s continued support to the Federal Government.

He said that Nigeria was one of IFAD’s strongest partners, saying that one of his missions was to strengthen and deepen the partnership.

Brown said that some of the key projects which Nigeria had identified with have had significant impact at improving production.