To tackle climate change-induced crop losses, the Federal Government is incorporating an Agricultural Insurance Scheme into the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP). Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, announced this integration at the Agricultural Insurance Train-the-Trainer Workshop in Abuja.
The initiative aims to safeguard investments and support sustainability in Nigeria’s food systems, with backing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The program, which began in the 2023 dry season focusing on wheat cultivation, has so far yielded positive results due to favorable weather conditions. However, Abdullahi emphasized the need for climate risk mitigation to address vulnerabilities such as floods, droughts, and pests that could lead to significant crop failures and economic losses.
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Highlighting recent challenges, Abdullahi noted that Kaduna’s ginger farmers suffered a severe setback this year due to a ginger blight disease, resulting in over 90% loss of their harvest. The minister stressed that climate-smart agriculture is crucial for developing a resilient food security system under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr. Isiaku Buba, National Project Coordinator for NAGS-AP, discussed expanding the scheme to better serve farmers and stakeholders. Mrs. Folashade Joseph, Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), expressed NAIC’s commitment to enhancing agricultural insurance and risk management to bolster national food security.
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