The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has launched the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) Project. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve agricultural productivity, and promote Climate Information Services (CIS) across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
The launch, held on Friday, 24 July 2026, in Abuja, marks a major step towards building a more productive, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the initiative will integrate Climate Information Services into agribusiness solutions through collaboration among government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, private-sector operators, and farmer organisations.
CSAPR Strengthens Climate-Smart Agribusiness Resilience
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, acknowledged the contributions of key partners. These include NiMet, IFAD, the Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders supporting climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems.
Dr Ogunbiyi urged partners to sustain collaboration and expand climate-smart agribusiness opportunities. He also called for efforts to unlock financing for farmers, strengthen agricultural value chains, and improve livelihoods. Therefore, the project is expected to create stronger links between climate intelligence, investment, productivity, and sustainable agricultural development.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet and Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Prof Charles Anosike, described the project as timely and strategic. He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and addresses the growing need for climate resilience across Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Prof Anosike stressed that timely, accurate, accessible, and actionable weather, climate, and water-related information remains critical to climate-smart agriculture and sustainable food systems. According to him, farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, insurers, processors, logistics providers, and investors require reliable climate intelligence to make informed decisions and manage risks.
He said, “Climate information must be translated into simple, localised, and actionable advisories that farmers and agribusinesses can use.” He also emphasised the importance of stronger public-private partnerships to expand access to climate services across Nigeria’s agricultural communities.
NiMet, he reaffirmed, will support the initiative through its Seasonal Climate Prediction, agrometeorological bulletins, impact-based forecasts, early warning advisories, and digital climate advisory platforms. These services are expected to help farmers anticipate climate risks, protect investments, and improve productivity.
In addition, IFAD Country Director, Ms Dede Ekoue, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its leadership. She also acknowledged NiMet’s technical contributions to the project’s design and development.
According to Ekoue, the CSAPR Project will strengthen financially viable public-private partnerships that integrate Climate Information Services into agricultural value chains. This approach will help farmers and agribusinesses adapt to climate variability while improving resilience, productivity, and investment opportunities.
Speaking on behalf of the National Programme Coordinator of the SAPZ Programme, Dr Kabir Yusuf, a representative highlighted early achievements under the initiative. These include installing automated weather stations in Ogun and Kano States, beginning climate information dissemination, and distributing digital devices to farmer organisation leaders.
The devices are expected to facilitate faster access to weather advisories and climate information. Consequently, farmers can make better decisions about planting, harvesting, irrigation, logistics, and other critical agricultural activities.
The CSAPR Project is a Federal Government initiative financed by the Gates Foundation. It is implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the SAPZ Programme, with support from IFAD and NiMet.
The project is expected to strengthen climate resilience, enhance food security, and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. Furthermore, embedding Climate Information Services into sustainable agribusiness solutions could help Nigeria build stronger agricultural value chains through effective public-private partnerships.
