Kyari pushes climate-smart agriculture to drive food security, growth

Abubakar Kyari, Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS)

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has called for greater adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, saying they hold the key to boosting food production, creating jobs and accelerating economic growth across Africa.

Speaking at a COP30 side event during the Africa Food Systems Summit 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, Kyari said Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda is already demonstrating how innovation can strengthen resilience against climate change.

He highlighted progress in solar-powered irrigation, climate-resilient crop varieties, and integrated pasture systems, stressing that “resilient seeds, soil protection, water management, and clean energy use must be at the center of Africa’s food system reforms.”

Kyari cited Nigeria’s success with the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which has doubled yields, increased farmer incomes, created over 30,000 jobs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

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He also underscored the role of young people and women in agriculture, pointing to initiatives like the Soilless Farm Lab, which combines sustainable farming methods with empowerment opportunities.

The minister urged stronger commitments in climate finance, technology transfer, access to carbon credit markets and partnerships to scale up agricultural innovations.

He praised institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), CGIAR, Embrapa, and the Gates Foundation for supporting the continent’s agricultural agenda

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.