As part of efforts to guarantee nutrition security by 2030, Nigeria’s Food Systems Technical Committee has adopted a unified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen coordination and ensure effective implementation of policies across the country’s agricultural value chain.
The adoption is aimed at translating policy commitments into measurable results, while addressing challenges such as low agricultural productivity, rising food prices, post-harvest losses and malnutrition.
The initiative also seeks to boost local food production, make nutritious food more affordable and accessible, create employment opportunities and improve farmers’ incomes.
The development was announced at the biannual review meeting of the Agri-Food System Transformation and Innovation (AFTI) Programme, where stakeholders reviewed progress and explored strategies for improving Nigeria’s food systems.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the National Convenor of the UN Food Systems Implementation Team, Dr. Clementina Ebere-Okoro, explained that the SOP would provide clear guidance for key actors across the agricultural value chain, from production to processing.
She noted that the standard procedure would help stakeholders understand their respective responsibilities and ensure a more coordinated approach to food systems transformation.
Also speaking, the former National Convenor of the UN Food Systems Implementation Team, Dr. Sanjo Faniran, described the development as a paradigm shift from the situation two years ago.
He observed that more states were now prioritising agro-processing, including micro-processing, as part of efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and maximise the value of agricultural produce.
Faniran stressed the importance of recognising the negative effects of post-harvest losses, noting that increased investment in processing would help improve the efficiency of the agricultural value chain.
