September 14, 2025 – The Federal Government has unveiled a new agrifood investment plan aimed at promoting climate-smart farming, boosting food production, and creating more jobs for farmers, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari announced on Sunday.
In a statement, Kyari explained that the initiative is designed to support sustainable agricultural practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen Nigeria’s food systems in line with both national and international climate commitments.
“The National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan aims to enhance agricultural investments, boost agrifood production, create jobs, alleviate poverty, and make healthy diets more affordable,” he said. “At the same time, it seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood production and promote reforestation.”
The minister recalled that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, formerly known as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had in 2022 entered a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations through the Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies Programme.
He said the collaboration has since helped inform policy decisions and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural planning.
Kyari noted that the plan prioritises scaling climate-smart agriculture for crops and horticulture, restoring degraded lands through sustainable practices, promoting regenerative agriculture and agroecology, and empowering smallholder farmers, with particular focus on women and youth.
“Building on these priorities, Nigeria has advanced its National Adaptation Plan, which integrates adaptation strategies into agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure, with strong emphasis on community-led solutions and ecosystem-based approaches,” he stated.
The minister further revealed that Nigeria is positioning itself under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to establish policies and market mechanisms for carbon trading and results-based financing.
“By leveraging carbon credits from climate-smart agriculture, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, Nigeria aims to attract additional investment while supporting smallholder farmers,” he said.
Kyari highlighted development projects already supporting the sector, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone programme, the Value Chain Development Programme, the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta, the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, and the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pockets.
He urged stakeholders and international financial institutions, including FAO, IFAD, and the Global Environment Facility, to scale up financial support, share risks, and implement programmes that will reach smallholder farmers and rural communities. “Such collaboration is vital as we work collectively to transform food systems for sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness,” Kyari added.
The minister stressed the importance of additional funding for climate-resilient crops and sustainable practices to address challenges posed by climate change and to safeguard national food security.
Nigeria’s agriculture sector remains the country’s largest employer, providing livelihoods for more than 35 percent of the population and contributing about 23 percent to GDP.
Despite its size, the sector still struggles with low yields, limited access to credit, high post-harvest losses, and increasing vulnerability to climate change. These persistent challenges have prompted government efforts to modernise agriculture through mechanisation, irrigation, and improved seed varieties.
Kyari concluded that the new investment plan seeks to align Nigeria’s agricultural development with global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement, the UN Food Systems Summit, and COP28, ensuring that national food production systems contribute meaningfully to broader climate objectives.
