On September 25–26, 2024, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) organized a two-day Nigeria Stakeholders Workshop on Innovation Scaling Preparedness and Strategy in Abuja, Nigeria. The workshop brought together over 50 participants, including government officials, agrifood SMEs, researchers, and stakeholders in the food value chain to discuss strategies for scaling innovations in Nigeria’s food sector. The workshop, organized under the CGIAR Initiative on Rethinking Food Markets and Value Chains for Inclusion and Sustainability was designed to foster collaboration and develop pathways for the scalability of agrifood innovations that can drive inclusivity and sustainability in Nigeria. By focusing on scalable solutions, the project aims to contribute to the development of a more resilient and equitable food system in Nigeria.
Dr. Bedru Balana, a Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI-Nigeria highlighted in his opening remarks, the initiative’s commitment to developing and scaling innovative solutions that address some of the pressing challenges in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Following his remarks, a video address by Rob Vos, Lead of the Rethinking Food Markets Initiative, underscored the importance of integrating inclusivity and sustainability into the food system transformation process.
Mrs Awe Ayodele, Agribusiness and Marketing Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) representing Sen Abubakar Kyari, Honorable Minister, FMAFS, shared the government’s commitment to supporting innovations that address post-harvest losses and improve market access for smallholder farmers. She stressed the significance of creating an enabling environment for agricultural innovations to thrive, especially in a rapidly changing global economy.
The first day of the workshop was dedicated to exploring the array of innovations being implemented in Nigeria’s agrifood sector. Participants were introduced to a variety of technological and logistical solutions aimed at improving post-harvest handling, increasing food security, and enhancing profitability for smallholder farmers. These innovations included cool transportation and cold storage systems for perishables, solar drying technology to reduce food losses, plastic crates, improved seeds, and digital financial platforms designed to support smallholder farmers and SMEs in the agrifood sector.
Dr. Bedru Balana presented key insights into how these innovations have already begun to make positive impacts in pilot sites across Nigeria. He explained that innovations such as cold chain transportation and solar-powered storage are proving to be cost-effective solutions that extend the shelf life of perishable products, reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access, ultimately benefiting smallholder farmers and SMEs.
Following presentations on the WP2 interventions overview by Dr. Futoshi Yamauchi, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI, and other partners on each intervention, discussions shifted to the concept of scalability. Olufemi Popoola, Research Analyst, IFPRI-Nigeria, presented preliminary findings of the solar dryer intervention, while Opeyemi Olanrewaju, Research Analyst, IFPRI-Nigeria presented findings on optimizing agricultural finance for improved agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Participants engaged in breakout sessions to assess the scalability of these innovations in different contexts. They identified key enablers of scaling innovation in Nigeria's agricultural sector, including factors such as access to finance, infrastructure, and market demand.
On the second day, the discussions centered on creating actionable strategies to scale the innovations discussed. In interactive breakout groups, participants identified the partnerships, financial investments, and policy frameworks needed to successfully scale innovations. Government representatives, agrifood SMEs, and research organizations collaborated to co-design pathways for scaling, ensuring that the innovations align with local realities while also meeting national development goals.
View Picture Gallery Below
