FG Signs $99.5m Agreement With FAO To Develop Agricultural Sector

The federal government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed a five-year country programming framework (CPF) to improve the country’s agricultural sector.

The CPF is an initiative whose funding is expected to be drawn from the federal, state, local governments and international donors.

It outlines FAO’s prioritised support to the government of Nigeria for the creation of an enabling environment for enhanced agriculture productivity and requires $99.5 million for full implementation.

Mohammad Abubakar, minister of agriculture and rural development, signed the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian government while Fred Kafeero, the FAO representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed on behalf of FAO.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held over the weekend, Abubakar commended the commitment of FAO in rendering support to the government of Nigeria over the years.

He called on stakeholders to urgently invest in agriculture and develop strong action plans to address climate change, food losses and institutional weaknesses if the sector must be transformed.

“This will aggressively drive the economic diversification programmes and transform food systems to ensure sufficient food in the country as well as export for foreign earnings,” Abubakar said.