Communiqué: Call for Joint Action to Create a Sustainable and Inclusive Horticulture Sector in Naigeria

Abstract
The HortiNigeria program, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, held a learning event in Kano, Nigeria, on July 11-12, 2023. This event convened key stakeholders in Nigeria's horticulture sector to collaborate, share insights, and discuss key actions to foster sustainable growth in the sector. This communiqué encapsulates the event's collaborative spirit and ideas for action, focusing on eight critical topics: 1.Climate-smart approaches to improve production and livelihoods: Climate change poses a huge challenge for horticulture. Proposed actions include knowledge-sharing on climate-smart approaches, efficient funding systems for action research, and public-private partnerships (PPPs). 2.Inclusion and empowerment: Achieving gender equality and youth inclusion in horticulture must be a priority. Strategies include forming producer organizations (POs), engaging men to realize the importance of women in the sector, improving market access, and promoting diversification of entrepreneurial choices. Access to financial services: 3.Access to finance remains a challenge for many horticultural stakeholders. Recommendations include enhancing financial literacy and facilitating low-interest loans to boost investment. 4.Business-to-business opportunities: Strengthening agribusiness linkages is essential for improving efficiency, reducing losses, and ensuring fair prices. Recommendations include establishing a market information-sharing platform and ensuring year-round input availability. Agro-input dealers and services along the value chain: 5.Agro-input dealers play a vital role in improving yields and providing advisory services. Recommendations include enforcing regulatory standards and improving access to finance. 6.Awareness of food safety and the nutritional value of vegetables: Increasing awareness of safe food production and the nutritional value of vegetables is crucial. Recommendations include promoting the safe use of inputs, building capacity, and conducting intensive awareness campaigns. 7. Technology and innovation: Innovation can enhance productivity, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience in horticulture. Solutions must address challenges such as plant diseases, pests, and post-harvest losses. These recommendations give insight into the sector's vision for positive change and growth, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and policy advocacy to drive sustainable development. While the recommendations represent the sector's own ideas for improvement, comprehensive validation among all stakeholders has not yet taken place. Therefore, further discussions and refinement are advised.
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Keywords
Technology, Horticulture
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