The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called on the collaboration of public and private sectors, civil society, women, researchers and donors for successful implementation of the National Agricultural Technology Policy (NATP).

Dede Ekoue, IFAD Nigeria Country Director, said this at the inauguration of NATP on Friday in Abuja.

Ms Ekoue, who said NATP was aimed at boosting the growth of agriculture and the transformation of food system through technology and innovation, emphasised that such collaboration would ensure full realisation of the policy thrust.

She commended the effective leadership of the federal government for developing and adopting the NATP.

The country director identified NATP as a truly innovative and ambitious policy for sustainable, inclusive and accelerated growth of the agricultural sector.

According to her, NATP is a powerful motor to accelerate economic growth through greater modernisation and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Ms Ekoue added that the policy would help to fast track productivity, reduce external dependence on food, increase agricultural resilience through digital and climate-smart agriculture and enhance private and public investment in the transformative growth of agricultural value chains.

“The policy is also an important booster for the sustainable and profitable inclusion of smallholder farmers including women, youth and family farmers.

“It is worth noting that NATP will bring a major contribution to the advancement of the Nigerian pathways for food systems transformation and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Ms Ekoue described IFAD as highly  privileged to be a key partner to the government in the development of the NATIP.

She said the organisation had since 2019 supported the process through the recruitment of a consultant team.

“We want to seize this opportunity to appreciate the quality of collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) technical team including strong leadership provided by the Permanent Secretary, Director of Project Coordintion Unit-PCU and others.

“Going forward, IFAD as part of the UN family is committed to continuous support in close collaboration with FAO, the Federal Government of Nigeria in the implementation of the NATIP.

“We are pleased that we are quite advanced regarding the assistance that FAO could contribute in support to the ministry of agriculture’s decisive effort develop the NATIP implementation plan,” she said.

(NAN)