The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a bold new strategy to accelerate climate-smart agribusiness, designed to safeguard food systems against the growing threats of climate change.
Launched in Abuja at the Best Practice Workshop on Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) for Climate Information Services, the initiative is anchored on the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) project. It brings together government agencies, development partners, agribusinesses, ICT companies, and farmer organizations to integrate real-time climate data into agriculture.
Boosting resilience with technology
The partnership is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). NiMet showcased its ENACTS Maproom, a digital platform offering farmers accurate forecasts, historical climate data, and tailored advisories. Plans are also underway to expand Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) through collaboration with the private sector.
IFAD Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, stressed that smallholder farmers rely on timely weather information for decisions such as planting and harvesting, adding that PPPs will ensure innovations move from pilot stages to wide adoption.
Government’s commitment
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu affirmed that climate-smart agriculture is central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the approach will be mainstreamed into the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) to strengthen value chains, create jobs, and open opportunities for youth and women.
Why it matters
Agriculture, which employs nearly 70% of Nigeria’s workforce and contributes about 24% of the GDP, faces mounting risks from erratic rainfall, drought, and flooding. Experts warn that without adaptation, productivity could fall by as much as 25% by 2080.
The CSAPR project aims to reduce such risks by scaling up digital tools, strengthening food security, and expanding financial inclusion for smallholder farmers. Stakeholders at the workshop are drafting a roadmap to guide its implementation.
With this move, the Federal Government signals its determination to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector not only more productive but also more resilient in the face of climate change.