The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has highlighted Nigeria’s shift from short-term agricultural interventions to a more integrated, market-driven food system focused on productivity, processing, markets and investment.
Kyari made this known while speaking at an International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)-organised panel at the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF).
The panel, titled “Agrifood Systems at the Crossroads: Major Disruptions and Required Policy Innovations,” focused on emerging challenges and policy measures needed to strengthen Africa’s food systems.
The Minister said the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) had recorded 2.54 million metric tonnes of produce, valued at an estimated ₦2.31 trillion, across four farming seasons.
According to him, the achievement had contributed to improved food availability and price stability across the country.
Kyari said the Federal Government was moving beyond input distribution by linking farmers to aggregation centres, markets and guaranteed off-take opportunities.
He disclosed that an initiative targeting two million smallholder farmers was underway, alongside the planned distribution of more than 10 million bags of fertiliser.
The Minister also highlighted the procurement of 2,000 modern tractors and $538 million in co-financing for the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Kyari stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking, noting that research, data and economic modelling remained central to shaping Nigeria’s agricultural policies and investment decisions.
He also acknowledged the role of IFPRI and other development partners in supporting evidence-based approaches to agricultural development in Nigeria.
The Minister’s presentation formed part of discussions at the AFSF 2026, which brought together stakeholders to examine strategies for transforming Africa’s food systems.
