FAO DG, Kyari Forge Alliance To Advance Agriculture, Create Jobs In Nigeria

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Kyari, held a bilateral meeting with the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. QU Dongyu, on the sidelines of the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome.

The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria’s partnership with the FAO to boost agricultural productivity, promote sustainable development, and improve livelihoods, particularly for smallholder farmers across Nigeria.

Key highlights of the discussions included: Recharge of the Chad Basin, Senator Kyari followed up on Nigeria’s request for FAO’s technical and financial support towards the recharge of the Lake Chad Basin, aimed at restoring agribusiness activities, livelihoods, and food security in the region.

Sustainable Irrigation Development, The Minister sought continued FAO collaboration in expanding irrigation systems to improve water management and resilience for smallholder farmers, thereby enhancing year-round agricultural production.

Agricultural Mechanization Support, Discussions also centered on strengthening agricultural mechanization initiatives in Nigeria to improve efficiency, productivity, and value addition among rural farming communities.

Development of a Farmers’ Database, the Minister emphasized the importance of FAO’s support in establishing a comprehensive national farmers’ database to aid policy planning, resource allocation, and program monitoring.

Senator Kyari appealed for increased employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians within FAO Headquarters and its global offices, in recognition of the country’s commitment to agricultural transformation and food security.

The meeting reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural priorities and advancing mutual goals of food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity.