The United Nations in Nigeria has said that the food economy in the West Africa and Sahel sub-region would rise to $480 billion in 2030 with the non-agricultural sector accounting for about 49 percent of the value-added.
Matthias Schmale, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in Nigeria, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 13th Multidisciplinary Team Meeting of 15 FAO Representations in the West African sub region and the sahel with the theme: “Joining Efforts to Build Resilient Agrifood Systems in West Africa and Sahel.”
Schmale attributed the expected growth to the systemic approach undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations efforts in securing the development gains in the fight against hunger.
He further tasked West African countries to seize the opportunities for building resilient agri-food systems in the region.
According to him, this trend provides great prospects for the West African food system to increase production, value addition, job creation, and food security.
Schmale said it is a big concern that over the years, countries in West Africa and the Sahel have witnessed the adverse impacts of climate change, a declining natural resource base, recurrent natural and human-induced disasters, and rising insecurity.
“All of these have adversely impacted agri-food systems, causing the agricultural production and yields in the sub-region to be the lowest in the world. COVID-19 significantly worsened the food security situation of many households in the region, especially poorer households,” he said.
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The FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, said that the 3-day meeting is aimed at deliberating on the current food and nutrition situation in the West Africa subregion, its determinants, and mitigation measures.
Kafeero noted that it would offer an opportunity to enhance collaboration, joint planning, and mutual accountability in driving actions towards a resilient Agri-food Systems in West Africa and Sahel.
He said the FAO was putting emphasis on the area of data and analytics for generation of evidence to guide responsible investments and partnerships for food systems transformation.
“We are glad our partners from ECOWAS are joining us to advance food security and nutrition in West Africa and to contribute to the knowledge sharing regarding challenges, threats, and opportunities to move agri-food systems in the region towards sustainability,” he stated.
The Minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said Nigeria’s food and nutrition security still remain a big challenge in-spite of the country’s modest achievements in the sector.
He reiterated the Federal Government willingness to partner with FAO and other development partners in driving actions towards a resilient agrifood systems in the country in particular and in West Africa and Sahel in general.
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