FG partners IITA, World Bank to boost agriculture

By Innocent Raphael

The Federal Government, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and the World Bank have announced a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing agricultural practices to combat food insecurity in Nigeria and the broader sub-Saharan African region.

According to an official statement, this initiative was formalized during a high-level meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, involving Vice President Kashim Shettima and delegations from the IITA, World Bank, and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

In his remarks, Vice President Shettima emphasized the critical need to enhance agricultural yields, highlighting the IITA’s pivotal role in supporting not just Nigeria but the entire sub-Saharan region through smart agriculture, climate-resilient practices, and improved seed varieties.

“The IITA is in a unique position to assist in repositioning the agricultural ecosystem through smart agriculture, climate-resilient practices, and improved seedlings,” he stated.

Shettima noted the IITA’s longstanding contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural landscape since its establishment in 1967 and stressed the urgency of leveraging its expertise as he noted the country is poised to become the third most populous nation by 2050.

He also highlighted the complex relationship between the economy and ecology, exacerbated by desertification, climate change, and insecurity in the Sahel region, which affect agricultural productivity.

“In the food basket of the nation, there is an incestuous relationship between economy and ecology because of desertification and climate change. The productivity of our agriculture is poor and is compounded by insecurity, which might not be unconnected with the challenges in the Sahel,” he explained.

While calling for a closer collaboration with the IITA, particularly in providing high-quality seeds for maize and root crops like cassava, he praised the successful adoption of IITA’s improved cassava seedlings in the Southwest and urged similar initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa.

Director General of the IITA, Dr. Simeon Ehui, thanked the Vice President for his commitment to agricultural development in Nigeria and support for the Institute.

He further reiterated that the delegation’s visit to Abuja aimed to review IITA’s partnerships and collaborations to bolster food security efforts in Nigeria and West Africa.

In addition, Dr. Dashiell Kenton, Deputy Director General for Partnerships for Delivery at IITA, highlighted the Institute’s support for government initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly through the ‘Youth in Agribusiness’ initiative.

Also speaking at the meeting, World Bank Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food Global Practice, Mr. Abel Lufafa, expressed satisfaction with the Tinubu administration’s leadership in enhancing agricultural productivity. He lauded the shift towards government-led collaborations in the sector.

Channing Arndt, a senior researcher at IFPRI, in his remarks, noted the broad scope of their partnership with the IITA, emphasizing their joint commitment to improving agricultural practices and boosting food production.

The meeting also included the IITA Board Chair, Prof. Roel Merckx, and board members Ms. Rhoda Tumusiime, Dr. Namanga Ngongi, Dr. Ylva Hillbur, and Deputy Director General for Research for Development, Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe.