The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged stakeholders in agriculture and finance sectors in West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made the call at the Regional Forum on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture in West Africa on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Abuja.
He said such efforts would ensure food and nutrition security and food sovereignty in the region.
The theme of the forum is “Financing the Transformation of Sustainable Food and Nutrition Systems for Food Sovereignty in West Africa through Organic Agriculture and Agroecology; Considering What Policies, Mechanisms and Instruments?”
The forum was organised by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Forum on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture in West Africa, among others.
It focused on strengthening agroecology and organic farming systems across West Africa and how best to promote sustainable farming practices that enhance food security and empower local communities across the region.
Kyari, represented by Dr Ibrahim Tanimu, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), said the forum was timely and critical for the life of the region particularly Nigeria.
He identified finance as a major constraint in food system development and strategic in food sufficiency.
The minister said that the forum should identify bottlenecks in accessing critical financing with emphasis on economic and fiscal policies and regulations impacting the development of the sector.
“I urge you to think critically about your role in promoting and leveraging financing strategies for agroecology and organic agriculture in West Africa that support local consumption, regional and global trade leveraging on African Continental Trade Agreement (AfCTA) agreement.
“There should be experience sharing relating to sustainable use of resources for soil amendment, weed, pest and disease control, protection of biodiversity, ecosystem and environment.
“Let us work together to create a sustainable and resilient food system that will ensure secured future, safety, and security for West Africa region, the continent and the world,” he said.
The minister said food production and management, or recent nomenclature termed “food systems” continued to take priority in global discuss.
He said that as the region strove to build a food-secured future, agroecology and organic agriculture offered a compelling solution.
According to him, by embracing sustainable agricultural practices, stakeholders can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health and promote ecosystem services.
“Agroecology and organic agriculture also empower smallholder farmers, particularly women to take charge of their livelihoods and contribute to local economic growth,’’ he said.
Kyari said efforts of multilateral agencies and donors in funding agroecological and organic agricultural project continue to compliment government support to achieve sustainable funding.
He, however, said that annual budgetary allocation to agriculture was still below the agreed 2014 Malabo declaration of 10 per cent.
Kyari added that 2024 budget was 59 per cent increase towards achieving the Malabo declaration.
According to him, engagement with financial institutions, fund managers and investors will support the contextualisation of funding to enhance engagement of stakeholder in agroecological and organic agriculture sector with emphasis on value chain development.
Kyari said the ministry was committed to collaborative efforts in unveiling systemic solutions supported by enabling policy environment for food systems transformation.
Participants at the forum were representatives of ministries of agriculture, environment, finance and economy in member states, ECOWAS Commission, Head of European Union delegation.
Others were from Agroecology Programme in West Africa French Development Agency, ActionAid, FAO/West Africa Regional Office, West African Development Bank (BOAD) and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).
Representatives of West Africa Alliance for Agroecology (3AO) and West African Organic Network (WAFRONET), among others, also attended.
By Felicia Imohimi
