Nigeria is working to make the agriculture sector globally competitive.

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has pledged to remove all obstacles limiting Nigeria’s agricultural potential, especially in livestock production, as part of his administration’s goal of achieving food sovereignty and boosting exports

During a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on Saturday at Copacabana Forte, Tinubu emphasised the need for urgent agricultural reforms. “Excessive bureaucracy has delayed progress,” said Tinubu, assuring Nigeria is working to make the sector globally competitive. "All technicalities in agreements between the two countries will be streamlined and fast-tracked in trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, mining, and natural resources exploration," he added. 

He praised Brazil’s leadership in agricultural research, calling the country a model in food production and exports. He also highlighted Nigeria’s investment in livestock, including poultry, fisheries, and cattle, which aims to create jobs and enhance food supply.

Tinubu pointed to Nigeria’s blue economy as a new frontier for collaboration in marine and aquatic resources. “State governments must act swiftly to drive food production nationwide,” he urged.

Lula da Silva echoed Tinubu’s urgency, promising to update all bilateral agreements and cut through red tape. “Our institutions will work with Nigeria to improve livestock farming systems,” he assured. 

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to food security through global partnerships, noting Nigeria’s fertiliser production advantage.

Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, highlighted animal health, sanitation, and genetic research as key areas for Brazil-Nigeria cooperation.

Governors from Benue, Ogun, Niger, Delta, and Lagos, along with Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammed Mohammed, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, were present, underscoring strong national backing for Tinubu’s agricultural reforms.

The regulation agency has requested farmers to switch to organic production methods and utilise only licensed pesticides.

The regulatory agency in the Gash Barka area has held food safety workshops for people and animals, focusing on farmers and owners of organisations that provide social services in the sub-zones of Sel'a, Kerkebet, Laelai Gash, Gogni, and Mogolo

During the seminars, Meaze Neguse, an expert in animal resources regulation, cautioned that hazardous food could risk the lives of both people and animals. He stressed the importance of safety and hygiene throughout the whole food production chain, from farm to consumer, and emphasised the close relationship between food safety and environmental protection. He exhorted everyone involved in the food processing and distribution industry to work with regulatory professionals.

Hadish Gebremeskel, a representative of the plant regulatory service, spoke at length about the immediate and indirect negative consequences of misusing pesticides. He aimed at the serious implications of employing unauthorised or harmful agricultural medicines without consulting specialists, noting that these methods are bad for the environment, people, and animals. He requested farmers to switch to organic production methods and utilise only licensed pesticides.

Sub-zone officials, for their part, said that the seminars make a big difference in achieving the objective of "Ensuring Nutritious Food for All and Everywhere." They urged farmers and food processing companies to use the skills they acquired during the training in their regular activities.

Over 50 stakeholders met in Bulawayo to discuss ECHO-funded project.

Zimbabwe is advancing from reactive to proactive disaster risk management with help from the European Union and other organisations

Recently, over 50 stakeholders met in Bulawayo to discuss the successes and challenges of a two-year anticipatory action project funded by ECHO. This project, from 2023 to 2025, focuses on improving how communities prepare for climate-driven disasters, particularly the severe drought expected from El Niño in 2023-2024.

Judith Ncube, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo, said,“The 2023–2024 El Niño drought brought untold hardship to our communities. Yet in the face of empty rivers, cracked fields and hunger, we saw something extraordinary; communities, government and aid agencies standing together. This workshop is not just about what went wrong, but how ordinary people’s resilience helped shape extraordinary responses.”

The project has created frameworks that enhance coordination among diverse groups and developed tools for early warnings and disaster financing. Key achievements include forming the Anticipatory Action Community of Practice, which links local decision-making to national systems. The Zimbabwe government launched a US$3 in response to the drought crisis. A 3 bn appeal for emergency and resilience support initiated a food distribution programme for vulnerable populations.

Key outputs like the national Anticipatory Action Roadmap and impact forecasting models are now guiding broader regional disaster management efforts. As the event ended, partners urged ongoing investments in anticipatory action for resilience, stressing the need to embed early action into national systems as climate risks grow. The initiative shows that with partnerships and community involvement, Zimbabwe can progress from responding to crises to building long-term resilience.

Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe stated,“Anticipatory action is not just a technical process; it is a lifeline. It is about the mother in Chiredzi who received early warnings and planted drought-tolerant crops just in time. It is about a child in Tsholotsho who did not go hungry because food assistance came before the crisis hit. This is the future of disaster response.”

This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)

BRAC has received a US$300,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to create a programme aimed at helping three million women smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda by 2030

This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. It will first launch in Bangladesh's coastal and drought-prone areas, providing farmers with services like agricultural technology, weather forecasts, adaptive insurance, and better market connections.

Deepali Khanna, head of Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation, stated,“Smallholder farmers are on the frontline of so many challenges, including the impact of climate change. Through our support of BRAC, we are empowering smallholder farmers not only to withstand disruptions, but also to advance solutions that can help build the foundation for lasting economic opportunity.”

The programme emphasises a community-led approach, ensuring it is culturally relevant and sustainable. The aim is to equip communities with skills to build resilience against challenges like rising salinity and erratic rainfall. BRAC plans to raise an additional US$300mn for this programme, intending to impact around 14 million people positively.

“At BRAC, we believe in equipping people and communities with the skills they need to build their own resilience,” said Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC. The Rockefeller Foundation’s support takes an important step in showing that locally driven innovation, when scaled up, can unlock pathways for millions of people to do that.”