Federal Govt, FAO Sign $99.5m New Medium-term Agric Dev Framework

The federal government in priority collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has signed the new Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023 – 2027.

The CPF outlines FAO Nigeria’s medium-term priorities for a five-year programming circle, that defines the agency’s support and delivery of its expertise to the government of Nigeria, to agriculture and natural resources management and require $99.5 million for full implementation.

The current CPF provides the basis for collaboration and partnership in four strategic priority areas of sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems for improved productivity, increasing resilience of food and agriculture-based livelihood systems, healthy and nutritious diets and sustainable natural resource and climate management.

The aimed of the collaboration is to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 target agenda towards food and nutrition security based on the FAO’s global strategy to realise the Four Betters; better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life.

At a signing ceremony in Abuja, minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said the frameworks is in line with the National Development Plan (2022-2025) and will aggressively drive the economic diversification programmers and transform food systems to ensure sufficient food in the country as well as export for foreign earnings.

The federal government also pledged commitment to practical implementation of the CPF and invited support from all stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation.

According to the FAO representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Fred Kafeero, the priorities area consider the FAO competence and comparative advantages in supporting the government of Nigeria to achieve the country’s vision of development and transformation of the agri food systems.

He saud, “May I use this same opportunity to thank the government alongside the UN agencies and our donor partners to complemented FAO technical support for the successful implementation of the recently closed CPF 2018 – 2022 and I wish to assure you all that FAO will continue to partner with you to provide the necessary technical and policy support aimed at reducing poverty and improving food security and reducing malnutrition in the country”.