Nigeria has taken another major step towards building a more resilient and productive agricultural sector with the launch of the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR), a new initiative designed to help farmers adapt to climate change while improving productivity and investment across agricultural value chains.

The programme, launched through a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to integrate climate information, technology and private-sector investment into farming systems to strengthen food security and rural livelihoods.

The initiative was officially unveiled in Abuja with support from the Gates Foundation and forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and improve resilience against increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

Supporting Climate-Resilient Farming

Climate change continues to pose one of the biggest threats to agricultural production across Nigeria, with prolonged droughts, flooding, erratic rainfall and rising temperatures affecting crop yields and farmer incomes.

The CSAPR programme seeks to address these challenges by providing farmers with reliable climate information, early warning systems and advisory services that enable better production decisions throughout the growing season.

The project will also encourage collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, agribusinesses, researchers and farmer organisations to develop practical climate-smart solutions.

Driving Investment in Agriculture

Officials say the initiative goes beyond improving weather forecasting by creating stronger partnerships that encourage private investment throughout the agricultural sector.

The programme is expected to improve access to finance, support agribusiness development and promote technologies that increase productivity while reducing climate-related risks.

By combining public and private sector expertise, the project aims to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve the long-term competitiveness of Nigeria’s farming industry.

Aligning with National Food Security Goals

The new partnership complements several national agricultural programmes already being implemented under Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.

These include the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP 2022–2027), the Presidential Food Security Initiative and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme.

Together, these initiatives are designed to increase food production, improve rural incomes and promote sustainable agricultural development across the country.

Climate Information at the Centre of Farming Decisions

A key component of the project is the expansion of Climate Information Services (CIS), which will provide farmers with timely weather forecasts, seasonal outlooks and location-specific agricultural advice.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) will play a central role by supplying agrometeorological bulletins, digital advisory services, seasonal climate forecasts and early warning information.

Access to accurate climate information is expected to help farmers improve planting schedules, manage water resources more efficiently and reduce crop losses caused by extreme weather events.

Focus on Smallholder Farmers

The programme places particular emphasis on supporting smallholder farmers, women and young people, who remain among the most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.

Through training, improved access to technology and stronger financial support systems, the initiative aims to increase resilience while creating new economic opportunities within rural communities.

Project partners believe empowering these groups will be essential for improving national food security and driving inclusive agricultural growth.

Building Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains

The CSAPR initiative also supports the development of stronger agricultural value chains by linking farmers with processors, financial institutions, insurers and markets.

Industry experts believe integrating climate-smart technologies with agribusiness investment will improve productivity, reduce production risks and make Nigeria’s agricultural sector more attractive to investors.

As climate pressures continue to intensify across Africa, programmes such as CSAPR are expected to play an increasingly important role in helping farmers adapt while ensuring sustainable food production for future generations.

With agriculture remaining one of Nigeria’s largest employers and a critical contributor to economic growth, the new partnership represents another significant investment in building a more resilient, technology-driven and climate-ready agricultural sector.