In her Keynote address, Ms Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, Nigeria said in line with the National Agricultural Technology And Innovation Policy (NATIP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is supporting the government of Nigeria in digital innovation for agriculture.
According to her, “In this process, IFAD is championing policy dialogue on digitalization of agriculture including mobilizing key actors for the development of a government-led National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR) and scaling up the use of digital innovation in all FGN-IFAD projects in line with Nigeria-IFAD Digital Innovation Action Plan (DIAP).
“These efforts are aligned with the vision of the government to leverage digital solutions in support of agri-food systems to enhance targeting to transparency and to scaleup to extension services, market information systems, climate information and financial services and to enhance the effectiveness of government assistance to vulnerable farmers.”
Speaking on behalf of the United Nation (UN) agencies in Nigeria, at the the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) High-Level Side Event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, themed: “Catalyzing Change: Showcasing Nigeria’s Innovations and Collaborations in Food Systems Transformation,”
Ekoue said in line with national priorities of Nigeria and leveraging the leadership of the Nigerian Government in transforming food systems, the United Nations supported the Government of Nigeria in initiating several innovations and transformative partnerships as a follow up to the UNFSS+2 in July 2023.
“In line with NATIP, IFAD and FAO in collaboration with the World Bank and AFDB and European Union are supporting the government in digital innovation for agriculture.
“Considering the strong national commitment for food system transformation and the strategic role of the UN in Nigeria in the agri-food systems, a UN joint program Agri-Food System Transformation and Innovation in Nigeria (AFTI) Programme has been approved by the UN to support the government in addressing the systemic challenges and aims to : 1) Strengthened governance of the National Food System Transformation Support Facility (NFSTSF), 2) Increased production, sales, and income generation for small-holder farmers through promotion of digital technologies in targeted areas, 3) Reduced Post-Harvest Losses using business to business (B2B) model and innovative technologies for market linkages, 4) Improved knowledge and behaviour on nutrition and healthy diets among women, adolescents, and children including smallholder farmers.
“One of the key innovative features is to boost partnership with private sector and development partners to scale up the transformation. This joint program is implemented by FAO, IFAD, WFP and UNICEF under the coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator and the leadership of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
On transforming fragility into opportunity, IFAD Nigeria CD, explained that in northern Nigeria, WFP, AFDB, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) are leading an innovative approach that redefines food assistance as a springboard for resilience and recovery in fragile settings.
“The unique partnership together with the FGN, IFAD, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) approved the Value Chain Programme in Northern Nigeria (VCN) offer an opportunity to leverage functional food system pockets amid conflict and fragile setting to build partnership including with government institutions, farmers organisations, private sector community development organisations to promote greater productivity, local procurement, inclusive finance, and structured, risk-informed investment, with the aim to revive markets, foster the economic and social empowerment of rural and fragile communities, and foster peace.”
