Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has described irrigation and water infrastructure as critical enablers for transforming subsistence farming into a business-oriented enterprise capable of driving food security, nutrition and job creation across the Sahel region.
Speaking at the Regional Hand-in-Hand Initiative Forum for the Sahel, held in Abuja, Kyari stressed that strategic investments in irrigation would catalyse higher yields, diversify food production, and unlock millions of jobs within the agricultural ecosystem.
“We must harmonize policies, share best practices, and invest in water and irrigation infrastructure as the foundation for agricultural transformation and food security in the Sahel,” Kyari said, calling on fellow ministers, regional leaders, and development partners to deepen collaboration.
The minister appealed to the private sector to view the Sahel as “the next frontier of opportunity” rather than a zone of risk, emphasising that partnerships in irrigation development, modernised processing and agri-tech innovations would bring prosperity and stability for future generations.
Kyari also noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Initiative provides an evidence-based matchmaking platform that aligns national agricultural priorities with investors and technical partners.
“It is a collective tool to move from identification of problems to the implementation of bankable, scalable solutions,” he said.
The forum, convened by the FAO, brought together regional ministers, development partners, international financial institutions, and private sector leaders to chart a sustainable agricultural path for the Sahel.
Member countries of the Sahel region include Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cape Verde, Mauritania, The Gambia, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon.
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