The World Bank has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to enhance farmers’ productivity in the country.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ndiame Diop, assured the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, of the Bank’s support during a discussion in Abuja.
The discussion centred on the need to tackle Nigeria’s agricultural crop production deficit, now at 11 metric tonnes annually, a fall from the required 23 million tonnes.
Diop called for the expansion of greenhouse programs and the adoption of hybrid seeds to enhance productivity.
On his part, Kyari highlighted the importance of establishing a farmer registry for targeted support and aligning the World Bank’s initiatives with existing programs, such as the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ).
The meeting also saw engagement with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other UN agencies, improving donor coordination, and strengthening the frameworks for seed and fertilizer subsidies.
The ministry expressed its commitment to collaborating with partners to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria.