The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has called for stronger regional coordination to boost agricultural productivity, enhance trade, and protect the environment across West Africa.
He made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the opening of the ECOWAS Initiative on Economic Integration through Trade, Environment and Agriculture—an interlinked series of policy dialogues convened by the ECOWAS Commission.
The meetings brought together the Directorates of Trade, Environment and Agriculture, along with ministers, development partners and technical experts from across the region.
Kyari noted that the engagements are crucial for shaping the policies and systems that determine the economic trajectory of West Africa.
He stressed that agriculture, trade and environmental management must be treated as one interconnected system, noting that agricultural goods constitute a significant portion of West Africa’s intra-regional trade but remain vulnerable to climate shocks, land degradation and water scarcity.
He said: “With agriculture driving regional trade and the environment sustaining our productivity, none of these sectors can function in isolation,” urging member states to strengthen mechanisms that support farmers and deepen market integration.
Kyari highlighted ongoing efforts at both regional and continental levels to promote predictable, rules-based trade, referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as vital tools for expanding market access.He also reaffirmed the importance of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and ECOWAS’ own agricultural blueprint, ECOWAP, which has guided regional planning since 2005.
Both frameworks, he said, align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision for food security and economic transformation.
Nigeria, he added, has established its Agriculture Sector Working Group to coordinate national agricultural development under the Post-Malabo CAADP commitments and ahead of the Kampala Declaration (2026–2035).
The platform brings together government agencies, researchers, private sector players, farmer organisations, civil society groups, and development partners to harmonise planning and track accountability.
The minister, while reflecting on his personal history with the regional bloc, recalled serving 25 years ago on the Nigerian team that helped set up the ECOWAS Parliament, where he became the body’s first Questor.
He described Nigeria’s role in hosting the Parliament as a point of national pride and a symbol of the country’s enduring commitment to regional integration.
He noted that Nigeria is pursuing comprehensive reforms through the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which links technology, farmer support, market efficiencies and institutional changes under one framework.
(This Day)
