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. 

Unveiled on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Abuja, the Gates Foundation-backed initiative aims to protect agricultural productivity and build climate-resilient food systems across the country.

The CSAPR project integrates Climate Information Services (CIS) directly into agricultural value chains through public-private partnerships involving government institutions, financial organisations, private agribusinesses, and smallholder cooperatives. 

Representing Dr Kabir Yusuf, National Programme Coordinator of SAPZ, Operations Manager Dr Zakari Tsiga noted that severe weather events, including erratic rainfall, flooding, and droughts, continue to disrupt national food production. 

Although the initiative is in its initial rollout, early field deployments include the installation of automated weather stations in Ogun and Kano states, alongside the distribution of digital communication devices to farmer group leaders to facilitate rapid advisory dissemination.

Speaking at the launch, the Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasised that actionable and localised weather intelligence is essential for risk management across the entire agribusiness ecosystem. 

He stated that financial institutions, insurers, logistics providers, and primary producers require predictive climate data to safeguard investments and time field operations effectively. 

Anosike highlighted that the CSAPR initiative translates raw weather forecasts into practical, decision-support tools, reinforcing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security.

NiMet pledged to support the initiative by providing Seasonal Climate Predictions, agrometeorological bulletins, early warning alerts, and digital climate advisory platforms. 

Addressing the gathering, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described the project as a critical milestone under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP). 

He urged all operational partners to maintain collaborative momentum to unlock rural agricultural financing, protect local farm yields, and cushion rural livelihoods against climate volatility.

Source: NAN