African agricultural leaders call for new financing and mechanisation models

At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Nigerian officials and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) highlighted strategies to transform Africa’s agricultural sector through improved financing and mechanisation.

Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the NADF, called for a new financial architecture to coordinate public, private, and concessional capital. He noted that the current challenge is not just capital availability, but the fragmentation of resources. Ibrahim emphasized the need for structured financing to de-risk projects and attract private-sector investment to support the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, urged the rapid passage of the Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill. He stated the legislation is essential for modernizing extension services and providing farmers with better access to technology, finance, and markets.

Additionally, Kyari commended the NADF for its role in Nigeria’s mechanisation drive, which includes training 4,000 tractor operators and mechanics. The government’s programme aims to deploy 2,000 tractors and 9,000 agricultural implements through a service-provider model to ensure sustainable maintenance and utilization.