The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (IITA–CGIAR) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle food insecurity, malnutrition, and agricultural innovation challenges across Africa, calling for synergy among stakeholders.
This was disclosed during a three-day high-level event, followed by a Stakeholder Engagement held in Abuja.
The high-level Stakeholder Engagement stressed the need for collaborations among key partners and active engagement with policymakers.
Over the three days, stakeholders highlighted the importance of digitalization, the science of scaling, and the integration of artificial intelligence in agricultural practices.
During the event, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui, outlined the 2024-2030 strategy, which aims to align with government policies and foster multilevel partnerships. He noted that policy engagement is essential for the successful scaling of agricultural innovations.
A key highlight was a panel discussion examining the role of policy engagement and private sector partnerships in scaling agricultural technologies. Dominique Koffy Kouacou, FAO Country Representative, stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders in the food systems and agriculture sector, stating, “When we build together, we build better.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by Temitope Fashedemi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), reiterated the minister’s commitment to addressing food insecurity in line with government objectives. He further noted that the ministry is willing to collaborate with the private sector and research organizations like IITA and CGIAR.
While speaking, Professor Roel Merckx, IITA Board Chair, urged stakeholders to form networks that would solve the problem of food and nutrition insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. He acknowledged the role of IITA in developing technologies to combat climate change, pests, diseases, and malnutrition, noting that significant impact can only be achieved through collaboration.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that the government is committed to forming partnerships that would help achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda.
