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Govt, IFAD launch CSAPR to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector – EnviroNews
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The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have formally unveiled the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) Project to strengthen the resilience and profitability of Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
According to both organisations, they aim to achieve this by integrating Climate Information Services (CIS) into economically viable agricultural products and services, which will be delivered through partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the event, which was funded by the Gates Foundation and organised by IFAD in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Abuja, Dr. Markus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the ministry, stated that the launch of the initiative represents a significant turning point in the agricultural ecosystem of the country.
He went on to explain that the launch signifies not only the start of a new programme but also the strengthening of the shared commitment among governments, development partners, the private sector, financial institutions, researchers, and farmers to address climate change, one of the biggest issues facing global food systems today.
The PS asserts that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian federal government is firmly committed to transforming the agricultural sector through innovation, the adoption of technology, and strategic investment.
This commitment is evident in the execution of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP 2022-2027), the Presidential Food Security Agenda, and various agricultural transformation initiatives, which make the launch of the programme for him more than just another climate-smart initiative.
“It is the beginning of a transformational partnership that will empower our farmers with knowledge, strengthen our agribusinesses with innovation, increase agricultural investment, and pursue an agenda as a concentrated leader in climate-smart agricultural development,” Dr. Ogunbiyi stated.
Commenting on the project’s concept, IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, stated that the FGN/IFAD Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience Project (CSAPR) is anchored on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Programme.
She hinted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) contributions to the policy dialogue laid the groundwork for the design of the CSAPR project and that their expertise, data, and institutional leadership were critical to ensuring that climate information services are accurate, timely, locally relevant, and useful to farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, insurers, and public decision-makers.
Since the model serves as both a resilience solution and a fund-mobilisation strategy for a more competitive agricultural sector, Ekoue said that the project intends to strengthen the business case for climate information services by engaging public institutions and private sector actors in practical, financially viable partnerships.
Prof. Charles Anosike, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), pledged the full technical support of his organisation for the CSAPR project.
Additionally, he promised that NiMet would collaborate with the FMAFS, IFAD, state governments, academic institutions, and farmer organisations to increase access to climate information services via digital advisory platforms, agrometeorological bulletins, early warnings, and seasonal forecasts.
He listed the project’s three main priorities: fostering enduring public-private partnerships; ensuring that women, youth, and vulnerable smallholders are central to the implementation process; and translating climate information into clear, locally relevant advisories.
Similar to the earlier speakers, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, the National Programme Coordinator for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), stated in his remarks that the CSAPR project’s debut is a significant endeavour that would alter the narrative in the nation’s food value chain.
Yusuf, who was represented at the meeting by the SAPZ Programme Operations Manager, Dr. Zakari Tsiga, observed that climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity through erratic rainfall, flooding, drought and other extreme weather events.
“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action and innovative solutions. The CSAPR project provides such a solution by integrating climate information services into agricultural value chains through strong public-private partnerships,” he noted.
The SAPZ coordinator went on to disclose that the initiative aligns closely with the SAPZ programme’s objective of developing resilient agro-industrial ecosystems that improve productivity, attract investment and enhance rural livelihoods.
“Today’s workshop,” he said, “offers an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, deepen our understanding of the project and gather valuable recommendations that will guide successful implementation.”
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja