The Nigerian government has taken steps to integrate agricultural insurance into its National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) program.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the move was to mitigate agricultural risks and ensure food security in the country.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, made the announcement during a workshop on Wednesday in Abuja, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the implementation of NAGS-AP.
Abdullahi explained that the program, which began during the 2023 dry season farming with wheat cultivation, aims to protect investments and interventions made by the government and its financing partner, the African Development Bank (AfDB).
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He revealed the importance of incorporating agricultural insurance into NAGS-AP, particularly in the face of climate change and its impact on local food systems.
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Folashade Joseph, Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), stressed the crucial role of insurance in agricultural activities, especially during both dry and wet farming seasons. S
Joseph assured NAIC’s commitment to partnering with stakeholders to provide sound insurance and risk management expertise, ultimately reducing risks and improving national agricultural output and food security.
Also speaking, Ishaku Buba, National Coordinator of NAGS-AP explained that the workshop aimed to expand the program’s horizon to include vital segments like agricultural insurance, increasing its overall package.
The scheme seeks to broaden its operational scope to cater to the interests of farmers and other stakeholders along the production chain.
