ABUJA — The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Angel Adelaja-Kuye, has called for a comprehensive, market-driven approach to climate-resilient agriculture, stressing the need to integrate sustainable land management, affordable irrigation, modern technology and innovative financing into food production systems.

Adelaja-Kuye made the call while representing Ogun State at the 2026 Africa Climate Forum, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on October 14 and 15.

The two-day high-level forum, organised by the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE), brought together policymakers, business leaders, investors, development partners and climate experts to explore practical solutions to Africa’s climate challenges.

Held under the theme, “Implementing in Lockstep: Public-Private Action for Green Outcomes,” the forum examined strategies for translating climate commitments into tangible development outcomes through stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector.

Speaking at the forum, Adelaja-Kuye argued that building climate-resilient food systems required governments to look beyond agriculture as merely the production of food and embrace a broader approach that integrates urban, rural and peri-urban food production, land management, infrastructure, technology and financing.

She said: “I believe that building climate-resilient food systems requires us to move beyond treating agriculture simply as food production. From a subnational perspective, we must develop optimised food systems that take into account urban, rural and peri-urban production, curb urban sprawl, ensure amenities are available in rural communities to prevent rural-urban migration, focus on land management and efficient utilisation, and make irrigation an affordable reality for farmers.

“We must also ensure eco-friendly infrastructure and logistics solutions, get the right technologies to those who need them, from biotechnologies such as improved seedlings to AI-automated weather forecasts and extension services, while powering these interventions with dynamic financing that fits the scenario.

“All of this must be market-driven and show farmers that there is financial gain in sustainability.”

The Ogun State representative identified sustainable land use, efficient water management, climate-smart agricultural extension services, affordable financing and investments in storage, irrigation and agro-processing as critical policy priorities for subnational governments.

According to her, governments must also strengthen their capacity to provide farmers with practical climate information and support them in adapting their production systems to changing rainfall patterns, heat stress, flooding and other climate-related risks.

Highlighting Ogun State’s efforts to strengthen its agricultural value chain, Adelaja-Kuye pointed to initiatives such as the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative, which support agricultural development through grants and cluster-based interventions.

She noted that these interventions include solar-powered processing centres, alongside solar irrigation initiatives implemented in partnership with Heifer International, as well as engagements with development partners on sustainable agriculture, financing and agro-industrial development.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative, she added, provides an important platform for linking agricultural production with processing facilities and markets, helping to improve value addition and create economic opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

Adelaja-Kuye stressed that achieving climate resilience on a sustainable scale would require stronger public-private partnerships, noting that the private sector had a critical role to play in providing technology, investment, market access and operational efficiency.

“Government cannot do this alone. The private sector brings technology, investment, market access and operational efficiency. Our responsibility is to create an enabling environment, reduce unnecessary barriers, provide infrastructure and ensure that farmers can access the services they need,” she said.

She further emphasised that climate-smart agriculture must deliver measurable economic benefits to farmers if it is to gain widespread acceptance and remain sustainable in the long term.

“Ultimately, climate resilience must make economic sense for farmers. If a climate-smart practice protects the land, conserves water, reduces losses and improves income, farmers are much more likely to adopt it and sustain it. That is how we move from climate policy on paper to resilience in the field,” she added.

The forum also explored opportunities in climate finance, sustainable energy, carbon markets and technology-driven climate solutions, highlighting the importance of strategic investments and cross-sector partnerships in addressing Africa’s environmental and developmental challenges.

Ogun State’s participation underscored the state government's commitment to strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and building resilient food systems capable of supporting farmers, agribusinesses and communities amid growing climate uncertainties.