Core area “Sustainable agriculture and food systems” Modernising the agricultural sector and creating new jobs

At the government negotiations in October 2021, the two sides agreed that they would launch cooperation in the core area of “Sustainable agriculture and food systems”. In the course of 2022, they will define in greater detail what that cooperation will look like.

The government under President Muhammadu Buhari wants to reduce the high level of unemployment (which is particularly high in rural areas). One avenue pursued by the government towards that end is the expansion and modernisation of the agricultural sector. Accordingly, Nigerian-German development cooperation focuses on improving productivity, fostering agricultural value chains and supporting the provision of loans to agricultural enterprises.

Green Innovation Centre Nigeria: Workshop where trainers learn, among other things, how far apart maize plants should be for optimal thriving.

Green Innovation Centre Nigeria: Workshop where trainers learn, among other things, how far apart maize plants should be for optimal thriving.

Green Innovation Centre Nigeria: Workshop where trainers learn, among other things, how far apart maize plants should be for optimal thriving.

Cooperation activities are intended to build the capacity of relevant government authorities to provide services for agricultural enterprises and to foster increased cooperation between scientific institutions and the government. With funding from the BMZ's Special Initiative “Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems”, a Green Innovation Centre has been set up in Nigeria. It supports the reform of the agricultural sector, with a special focus on food security.