Nigeria has become the first African country to domesticate the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration with the launch of a 10-year national strategy, earning commendation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for setting a new benchmark in agrifood systems transformation across the continent.
Speaking at the launch of the Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan for the Domestication of the CAADP Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) in Abuja on Thursday, IFAD described the initiative as a landmark achievement that positions Nigeria at the forefront of implementing Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The agency praised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for leading what it called a highly inclusive and consultative process that culminated in the development of the strategy, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
IFAD also lauded the contributions of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, federal ministries, state governments, development partners, the private sector, research institutions, civil society organisations, farmer associations, women and youth groups in producing the roadmap.
According to the organisation, the strategy was developed in partnership with leading international institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), AGRA, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the World Bank.
Describing the development as a continental first, IFAD said Nigeria’s decision to domesticate the Kampala Declaration through a nationally owned framework provides a practical model for other African countries seeking to translate continental agricultural commitments into measurable national actions.
The development agency noted that the 2026–2035 strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s agrifood systems by placing smallholder farmers, women, youth, rural communities and other vulnerable groups at the centre of agricultural policies and investments.
It added that the framework integrates key cross-cutting priorities, including climate resilience, nutrition, gender equality, youth empowerment, support for persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons across its seven strategic priority areas.
IFAD highlighted Nigeria’s strong emphasis on digital agriculture as one of the strategy’s defining features, saying planned investments in digital farmer registries, climate advisory services, electronic extension platforms, digital financial services, market information systems and data-driven policymaking would modernise the agricultural sector.
According to the organisation, leveraging digital technologies will improve farm productivity, expand market opportunities, enhance transparency and provide millions of Nigerian farmers with access to innovative agricultural solutions.
The agency further observed that the broad participation of government institutions, development partners and stakeholders at the launch demonstrated strong political commitment to implementing the strategy through coordinated action, sustainable financing, robust accountability mechanisms and strengthened partnerships.
Reaffirming its support, IFAD pledged to work closely with Nigeria through investments, technical assistance, policy engagement and strategic partnerships to drive inclusive rural transformation, climate resilience, digital agriculture and sustainable agricultural value chains.
The organisation also called on development partners, investors and other stakeholders to back the implementation of the strategy, describing it as a critical framework for accelerating resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in Nigeria while creating positive ripple effects across Africa.
