The German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) has urged Nigeria to strengthen its agricultural institutions to ensure that innovations are integrated into education, training and extension systems and sustained beyond individual projects.

The call was made on Wednesday by Alexis Brakhan, Project Manager of GIZ’s Global Programme on Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys), during the close-out workshop of the Strengthening Institutional Frameworks for Transformative Agricultural Systems (SIFTAS) project in Abuja.

Implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) with financial support from GIZ, SIFTAS was designed to incorporate transformative agricultural innovations into Nigeria’s existing agricultural education, training and extension structures.

Brakhan explained that the partnership was implemented under AgSys, a programme commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

He identified the transformation of agricultural and food systems as a strategic priority for BMZ, stressing that challenges such as food insecurity, climate change and environmental degradation demanded interventions that went beyond improving agricultural production.

“BMZ promotes a transformation towards agricultural and food systems that are more sustainable, climate-resilient, inclusive and environmentally responsible.

“An important element is investing in knowledge, education and training, strengthening capacities and creating conditions for innovations to be sustained and scaled up.

“Through AgSys, GIZ supports sustainable agricultural policies, builds capacities and promotes innovations for long-term transformation.

“In Nigeria, one of our priorities is to ensure that agricultural innovations become embedded within existing systems for long-term dissemination,” he said.

According to Brakhan, the collaboration with SAA was designed to integrate sustainable agricultural practices into established institutional structures, making it easier for the innovations to remain in use and reach more beneficiaries.

Under the project, SAA facilitated the development of agroforestry curricula and training resources tailored to cassava, potato and rice production. The work involved universities, agricultural colleges, research institutions and government stakeholders.

The initiative also provided capacity-building support for personnel responsible for delivering the innovations and incorporated complementary agricultural practices into existing educational, training and extension programmes.

Emphasising the project’s institutional approach, Brakhan said, “What makes this collaboration so important is its focus on institutions,”

He noted that the close-out workshop provided an opportunity to review implementation progress, exchange experiences and reinforce stakeholders’ commitment to maintaining the project’s achievements after the formal intervention ends.

He disclosed that preparations for the post-project period included developing a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Transition Framework and signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with participating institutions.

“The framework provides a basis for participating institutions to continue monitoring progress, documenting results and facilitating learning beyond direct project support,” he said.

Brakhan praised the Sasakawa Africa Association for its leadership and dedication to the initiative. He also recognised the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the project.

SOURCE: AgroNigeria