Kebbi, Niger To Lead Food Systems Integrated Project With $7.8m GEF Funding

Kebbi and Niger States have been selected to lead agricultural sustainability initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria’s food systems towards sustainability and resilience.

The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with funding of $7.8 million spread over the next five years (2025-2030) to deliver environmental benefits with focus on creating sustainable, regenerative, nature-positive, and resilient food systems – making them pollution-free.

Titled, “Transformation to Sustainable Crops, Livestock, and Aquaculture Food Systems in Nigeria,” the programme is a collaborative effort led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with the Nigerian government with focus on production of food crops like maize and rice, livestock, and sustainable aquaculture in the Niger-Benue River basins.

The FAO representative ad interim in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, when he inaugurated the Inception Workshop for the GEF 8 Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP) said FAO would support the government of Nigeria in tackling the complex challenges at the nexus of the environment, agriculture, forestry, and marine and freshwater resources.

Kouacou urged stakeholders to contribute actively to the project.

In his remarks, the minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziak  Salako stressed the importance of this project, which he said aligned with the 2022-2027 National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).

He said, “Our collective decision and action remain the panacea to forge a positive path for the future of agriculture, ensuring food security, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity for all of us.

We must craft flexible and innovative strategies to enhance our resilience through optimal use of natural and human resources and modern agricultural technologies.”

Both Commissioner of agriculture in Kebbi State, Shehu Muazu and Ibrahim Mami, Commissioner of Livestock and Fisheries, Niger State welcomed the project while pledging to make contribution towards the success.