The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has decided to prioritise Agriculture as one of the pillars of the development agenda of the commission, because it is the surest way to restore and sustain the livelihoods of the people of the zone.

The Chairman, Security, Special Interventions, and Climate Change Committee of the NEDC Governing Board, Sir Sam Onuigbo, made the disclosure, in Abuja, during the first Conference on Accelerating Agricultural Adaption in Africa, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

He said without a doubt, Agriculture is a linchpin in achieving the sustainable development goals set out by the African Union’s Vision 2063 and the United Nations’ Agenda 2030.

Onuigbo, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023, noted that Agriculture employs more than half of Africa’s workforce.

He stressed that smallholder farmers constitute more than 60 per cent of the population in low-income African countries, adding that Africa has 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, even when agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of Africa’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Delivering his goodwill message at the conference, Onuigbo remarked that the North East geopolitical zone, which is very rich in Agriculture, because of its arable land and occupies one-third of the Nigeria’s 923, 769 square kilometres.

He regretted that “the impact of climate change in the region has led to drought, desertification, drying up of Lake Chad, loss of livelihoods, and forced migration, which fuels insecurity and insurgency.”

The NEDC Board member pointed out that the commission was determined to restore and sustain the livelihoods of the people of the zone, adding, “One approach to addressing climate change within the agriculture sector is Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA).”

While commending President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure food security and a robust economy, he said as advocates for climate action, we must applaud and support such initiatives that pave the way for a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

“It is through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions that we can mitigate the impacts of climate change and secure a better future for all,” he stated.

On the mitigation of the impacts of Climate change, Onuigbo declared: “As the sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Act and an advocate for climate change awareness and action, I cannot emphasize enough the urgency of this issue and the critical role that agriculture plays in Africa’s development, livelihoods, and sustainability.

“Therefore, today, I stand before you to address a matter of utmost importance, the future of African agriculture and the pressing Climate crises. As the organizers of this first-of-its-kind conference have highlighted, agriculture is not merely an economic sector; it’s a lifeline for millions of people, particularly women, who are the backbone of African agriculture.”

He pointed out that the agricultural sector is not only responsible for almost one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, but also a victim and a contributor to climate change.

“With climate change threatening to push 122 million more people into extreme poverty by 2030, we can no longer view agriculture and food security in isolation from climate action.”