The president of the Africa Development Bank (AFDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has announced significant support programmes aimed at improving Nigeria’s food security in the face of climate change problems.
Speaking during a visit to the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Adesina discussed the AFDB’s efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience in the region and pointed out the importance of adjusting to climate change by using crop varieties that are tolerant and resistant to unfavourable conditions.
He announced his intentions to boost Nigeria’s agriculture industry by easing the development of heat-tolerant wheat types, maize, rice, cassava, and soybeans.
“The bank is supporting Nigeria in this year’s dry season to cultivate 118,000 hectares of heat-tolerant wheat varieties and about 150,000 hectares of maize in the wet season that is coming,” he said.
He added that they have also been given $134 million to support the cultivation of 300,000 hectares of rice, another 300,000 hectares of maize, 150,000 hectares of cassava and 50 hectares of soybeans.
Dr. Adesina addressed the success story of Ethiopia, which became self-sufficient and even became a net exporter of wheat thanks to the AFDB’s aid in implementing heat-tolerant wheat varieties. He emphasised the need for timely information and research support and the AFDB’s dedication to working with organisations such as Bayero University to provide farmers with the resources they need to adapt.
“The fact that you have climate change doesn’t mean you need to be scared. The AFDB supported Ethiopia with heat-tolerant wheat varieties that, in three years, allowed them to become self-sufficient and now a net exporter of wheat. Therefore, the issue is that we have to make sure we help our farmers to know when it is going to rain, how much is going to rain, what crop to plant and when to plant and how to adapt if the weather is not very very good,” he explained.
Mr Adesina was recognised with a Doctorate Degree at Bayero University Kano.
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