FAO launches food, agriculture policy monitoring review

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has launched the 2025 Nigeria Food and Agriculture Policy Monitoring Review (PMR), a landmark initiative aimed at guiding evidence-based agricultural transformation under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).

The high-level event, held in Abuja, brought together senior government officials, development partners, the World Bank, private sector leaders, farmer organisations, civil society, and academia to engage in strategic dialogue on the future of Nigeria’s agricultural policy.

The policy monitoring review, developed with technical support from FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme, presents a comprehensive analysis of public expenditure and commodity price incentives over multiple years, offering critical insights to inform policy implementation and investment planning.

In reaffirming the alignment of the PMR with the priorities of the current administration, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said credible results from research would support the government’s expenditure and resource allocation.

Noting that the timing within which the report is released is apt, particularly since the government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning, is preparing the 2026 budget proposal for all sectors in the country.

“We must secure our future through food security. Increasing yields and improving nutrition are central to our agenda. The MAFAP analysis provides policymakers and development partners with a clear direction for targeted investments and impactful reforms.” Kyari said.

Earlier, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Dr. Hussein Gadain, emphasised the strategic partnership between FAO and the Nigerian government.

Noting that “the landmark policy review reflects our shared commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The evidence and recommendations presented will serve as a foundation for inclusive growth, improved food security, and sustainable development”.

“Key actions, based on government priorities and stakeholder consultations, continue to ensure that the findings of the report are relevant and achievable for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” Gadain said.

The PMR highlights key trends and challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural policy landscape. While nominal agricultural spending increased between 2015 and 2021, it remained at just 2 per cent of federal expenditure, far below the 10 per cent commitment outlined in the 2025 Kampala Declaration.

The report notes that rice has benefited from protective trade measures, boosting domestic prices and supporting producers. In contrast, maize and sorghum face persistent disincentives due to weak market integration and restrictive trade policies. Export commodities such as cocoa and cashew continue to struggle with quality control, high logistics costs, and currency misalignment.

Key findings of the PMR were shared with sector and government leaders present at the event, which included an interactive dialogue and expert-level guidance from FAO’s team of economists, led by Dr. Marco Sanchez, FAO’s Deputy Director of Agrifood Economics and Policy and Head of the MAFAP Programme.

To address these challenges, the PMR recommends, among others, optimising spending by combining long-term investments with short-term productivity measures, improving trade and value chains for key crops, streamlining export procedures and aligning macroeconomic and sectoral policies.

FAO’s continued support through the MAFAP programme underscores its commitment to helping Nigeria build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural sector.

As one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing economies, Nigeria’s success in agricultural transformation will have far-reaching implications for food security and economic development across the region.

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