Nigerian Government Ready to Promote Agroecological Practices In Nigeria

The Federal Government with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has initiated a National Policy Dialogue between countries, stakeholders and experts to promote agroecological practices in Nigeria.

Dr. Muhammad Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who made this in a statement in Abuja on the occasion of Policy Dialogue on Agroecology in Nigeria, confirmed that it is a means of mitigating the ravaging effect of climate change in the country.

Abubakar represented by Engr. Frank Satumari Kudla, Director, Extension Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), explained that the National Policy Dialogue was an initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agroecology programme to promote agroecological practices across the West African sub-region.

Frank identified the main objective of the ECOWAS agroecology programme which is to provide support to family farms in an agroecological transition that strikes a balance between economic performance, food security, resilience, preservation of the environment and the health of the population.

Speaking further, he explained that the workshop would provide an opportunity for participants to galvanize the views of the stakeholders in the agricultural sector, adding that their interventions would take the agricultural sector higher in Nigeria.

He pledged the support of the ministry to promote agroecology while commending ECOWAS for the initiative and support in the country.

In his welcome address, Dr. Peter Kush, Acting Director, Projects Coordinating Unit, in the FMARD, said in view of the destructive tendencies of the effect of climate change on the natural environment and livelihood activities, it has become imperative for practical options to be provided to balance up the ecosystem.

His words, “thinking along the line of conserving our natural environment while still maximizing the productive potentials, it becomes imperative to explore the possibilities and options open to agricultural stakeholders in mitigating the deteriorating impact of climate change and environmental degradation.’’

Agro Nigeria