In a decisive move to ensure agricultural policies translate into tangible results for local farmers, stakeholders have concluded a two-day Inception Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) Implementation Monitoring Committee.
The gathering marks a strategic shift from merely drafting policies to ensuring their rigorous execution across all levels of government.
The meeting serves as a cornerstone of the Inclusive Food Systems Project, specifically designed to address the historical challenge of paper-only decisions within the sector. By establishing a dedicated monitoring body, the initiative aims to foster a culture of accountability and transparency in how agricultural memos are tracked and realized.
A Unified Front for Accountability
The newly formed Committee brings together a powerhouse of diverse interests, ranging from government bodies to grassroots organizations. Membership includes the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, state representatives, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
Significantly, the Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) and development partners like ActionAid Nigeria and GIZ are integral to the committee. This collaboration ensures that the voices of those most affected by food policy particularly women and smallholder farmers are represented in the oversight process.
“ActionAid Nigeria is proud to support this important milestone aimed at enhancing accountability within Nigeria’s agriculture sector,” the organization stated. “Together, we are building a stronger system where policy decisions translate into real impact for farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable communities.”
Roadmap for Implementation Tracking
The two-day session yielded several critical outcomes aimed at streamlining agricultural governance. Most notably, the committee developed a draft Implementation Tracking Framework, which will serve as the primary tool for measuring progress on NCAFS decisions.
Participants also reached a consensus on coordination mechanisms and initiated an operational roadmap. This roadmap is expected to guide the monitoring of Council decisions at both the national and sub-national levels, ensuring that state governments and local agencies remain aligned with federal food security goals.
By focusing on the effective tracking of approved memos, the Committee intends to eliminate bottlenecks that have previously stalled agricultural development, ultimately aiming to bolster food security and economic resilience for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
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