Abuja: The Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a traceability system for agricultural produce and farmland monitoring. This initiative was complemented by the unveiling of a White Paper on Strategy for European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Compliance in Nigeria. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the strategic importance of this event for Nigeria’s global market competitiveness and its symbolic representation of the nation’s commitment to modernizing agricultural value chains.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kyari emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the centrality of agriculture to national economic renewal and growth. The MoU between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) aims to establish a national traceability and environmental monitoring system. NASRDA is tasked with providing satellite imagery and technical expertise, while the ministry will handle farmer engagement and policy integration.
Kyari noted that EUDR compliance requires Nigerian agricultural exports to be traceable to their farm origins, legally produced, and deforestation-free. The country risks losing significant export earnings if it fails to meet these standards. However, he sees this as an opportunity to create a trusted agricultural economy, open new markets, attract investment, and improve farmer incomes. Kyari assured that no farmer would be left behind in this technological advancement.
Dr. Mathew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, expressed support for the ministry’s initiatives and committed to the MoU’s full implementation using space technology. Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, reiterated the importance of addressing traceability and deforestation in the global agricultural context.