Vice President Kashim Shetima has called on the private sector to scale up investment in climate-smart agriculture technologies that can optimise yields, reduce waste and enhance productivity.

He assured that the government is committed to working with the private sector to deploy modern techniques across the value chain.

“Let me assure you that this government remains fully committed to leveraging the power of the private sector to build a resilient, market-driven food economy, regenerative farming practices, and digital solutions that enhance resilience,” the Vice President stated.

VP Shetima gave the assurance at a strategic workshop on agriculture and food security organised by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

“We cannot afford outdated methods. The future of Nigeria’s food systems depends on how quickly we embrace innovation,” he said.

Shettima praised the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) for their role in advancing data-driven policies to strengthen the agricultural sector.

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He noted recent achievements, including the $4.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Brazil, which is set to drive investments in fertilizer production, hybrid seed development, and agricultural credit access.

With Nigeria’s growing population and increasing climate challenges, Shettima warned that failure to modernise food production could deepen economic instability. He urged agribusiness leaders to leverage technology and sustainable farming to build a more resilient food system.

“The time for incremental progress is over. We need bold action, smart investments, and strategic partnerships to secure Nigeria’s food future,” he said.

The Managing Director of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Abubakar Ibrahim, who represented the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security at the meeting, said the minister recognises that agriculture in Nigeria cannot thrive without the full participation of the private sector.

He assured that the ministry remains committed to ensuring that policies, incentives, and financing mechanisms create an enabling environment for private investments to flourish.

He said NADF is not just facilitating access to finance but also working to catalyse innovation, unlock new investment opportunities, and develop new agricultural ventures and ecosystems capable of accelerating the attainment of food security.