The Federal Government has strengthened its partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) to advance agricultural research, promote innovation and accelerate the adoption of technologies capable of building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems across Africa.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the renewed collaboration on Monday while declaring open the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th FARA General Assembly in Abuja.
The conference, held under the theme, “Innovations and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa,” brought together policymakers, researchers, development partners, agricultural institutions and other stakeholders to examine ways of strengthening science and innovation in Africa’s agricultural sector.
Kyari said Africa’s vast natural resources alone could not guarantee economic prosperity, stressing that scientific research must be translated into practical innovations, businesses and solutions capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening food security.
He described the Africa Agriculture Science Week as an important platform for knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships and the promotion of scientific innovations that can transform Africa’s agrifood systems.
According to him, agriculture remains a major pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with food security closely linked to national security, economic development and social stability.
The minister said the Federal Government was implementing reforms aimed at expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving agricultural mechanisation, strengthening farmers access to quality inputs and increasing investments in research, innovation and technology.
He also highlighted the growing importance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, biotechnology and digital platforms, in improving agricultural productivity, expanding market opportunities and strengthening farmers resilience to climate change.
Kyari maintained that sustained investment in scientific research and strategic partnerships would enable Africa to develop home-grown agricultural solutions suited to its diverse ecological and socio-economic conditions.
“The future of African agriculture will not be determined solely by the size of our farms or the extent of our natural resources. It will be determined by the strength of our institutions, the quality of our science and our willingness to invest consistently in knowledge,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, described the conference as timely, noting that Nigeria’s collaboration with FARA demonstrated the importance of partnerships in advancing agricultural research and development.
Maiha said innovation remained critical to transforming Africa’s agrifood systems, improving productivity and unlocking the enormous economic potential of the sector.
In a virtual presentation, the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Simeon Ehui, said challenges including drought, climate change, biodiversity loss and rising food prices could be tackled through stronger scientific research, innovation and collaboration.
“Science works, innovation works and partnership works. Let us accelerate and scale up innovation,” Ehui said.
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr Abubakar Daban, said the conference aligned with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on agriculture, food security and economic development.
Daban stressed that tackling climate change, food insecurity and low agricultural productivity would require deeper collaboration among governments, research institutions, development organisations and other stakeholders.
He called for sustained investment in science-driven agricultural solutions and stronger partnerships to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential and build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
The conference is expected to further strengthen collaboration among African agricultural research institutions, policymakers, farmers, development partners and private-sector actors, while promoting the development and scaling of innovations capable of addressing the continent’s food and climate challenges.
