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Tag: Agric

  • ‘Nigeria can earn $100b yearly from agric’

    ‘Nigeria can earn $100b yearly from agric’

    Nigeria has the capacity to earn more than $100 billion annually from agricultural exports while employing less than four per cent of its workforce in agriculture, according to the 2025 Review and 2026 Forecast of the Origin Tech Group Intelligence Report, released in Lagos.

    The report said the country could begin a gradual transition toward global productivity benchmarks seen in advanced agricultural economies such as the United States and the Netherlands, where technology, scale and efficiency drive high output with relatively low labour participation.

    Looking ahead, the report described 2026 as a decisive year for Nigeria’s agricultural future, noting that it will test policy consistency and the government’s ability to move from short-term emergency interventions to long-term structural reform.

    As a pre-election year, it warned, the choices made could either lock in progress or reverse recent gains. It argued that sustained subsidies for fertilisers and agro-mechanisation, rather than large-scale food imports, offer a more viable and durable path to food security.

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     The report disclosed that Origin Automobile Works, a subsidiary of Origin Tech Group, plans to expand equipment financing and the supply of locally assembled tractors, targeting farms of at least 1,000 hectares. The company aims to enable 1,000 large-scale farms nationwide, a scale the report described as essential for competitiveness and productivity.

    The report said Origin Tech Group plans to roll out an AI-powered agricultural platform built on more than a century of accumulated data, offering Nigeria-specific insights for farmers, investors and policymakers. Expanded deployment of drones for farm imaging and precision agriculture is also expected to improve decision-making and operational efficiency.

    According to it, major food systems infrastructure projects are expected to reach critical milestones this year. The report highlighted Phase 1 of the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Park in Ereyun-Ketu, Epe, alongside several mid-level markets, the Igbodu Cattle Feedlot, and the commencement of full operations by the Bulk Food Company. These developments, it said, are expected to transform aggregation, storage and logistics across the country.

    For this reason, the report argued that Nigeria stands “at a threshold rich with promise but dependent on discipline, policy consistency and stakeholder commitment.” The challenge for 2026, it said, is not merely growth, but balanced growth that aligns commercial sustainability with affordability and inclusion.

    According to it, the agricultural and food systems sector closed last year  on a paradoxical note, recording one of its strongest output performances in years while leaving farmers under mounting financial pressure. The report maintained that yields of major staples—yam, maize, rice and cassava—rose steadily through the year, supported by favourable rainfall, expanded dry-season farming, improved agronomic practices and increasing adoption of technology.

    These gains, however, translated into a nationwide decline in food prices, easing pressure on household budgets and improving food access for millions of Nigerians. Farmers, on the other hand, faced sharply rising costs of fertilisers, fuel, herbicides and farm machinery, which compressed margins and left many producers worse off despite higher output. Climate shocks and persistent insecurity further complicated operations, making 2025 “a year of greater food availability alongside heightened financial strain for farmers,” the report noted.

    One of the most defining policy actions of the year, it noted, was the federal government’s temporary exemption of selected food staples from import duties. Market data cited in the report showed that the average price of locally produced rice fell to about ₦65,000 from a peak of ₦90,000, while foreign parboiled rice declined even more sharply, dropping to an average of ₦62,000 from ₦92,000. Prices of maize, beans and garri also recorded significant declines across major markets.

  • Groups seek improved agric communication

    Groups seek improved agric communication

    Effort involving the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and Nigeria Health Watch has called for a renewed media drive to strengthen agricultural communication and nutrition awareness across the country. The organisations say the media holds a critical role in translating complex agricultural innovations, nutrition data, and market opportunities into practical and usable information for millions of farmers and households.

    The initiative was the focus of a capacity-building workshop in Abuja, where journalists were trained on evidence-based reporting to support food systems transformation. Speaking at the event, the Country Director , GAIN Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo—represented by GAIN Senior Associate, Communications, Victor Ekeleme—urged journalists to adopt data-driven storytelling that goes beyond production figures to highlight value addition, market access, and nutrition outcomes.

     “We have gone beyond just telling stories. We now use data to make those stories more powerful. By the end of this training, we hope you leave with stronger skills, better networks, and renewed inspiration,” Ojo said. He stressed that media narratives must cover the entire agricultural value chain, from cultivation to processing and fortification, to influence policies that tackle chronic malnutrition and food insecurity.

    IITA Abuja Station Representative and Seed System Specialist, Dr. Beatrice Aighewi, noted that modern technologies exist to significantly raise productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods. She explained that IITA’s research focuses on staple crops such as banana, plantain, cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam to secure a food-secure future for sub-Saharan Africa.

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    Nigeria currently accounts for about 70 per cent of global yam production, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). However, Aighewi observed that yields remain limited by poor access to quality seed tubers, pests, diseases, and inadequate storage. She said the ongoing IITA yam project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is designed to reverse these challenges through improved breeding, seed systems, aeroponics, and Temporary Immersion Bioreactors (TIBs).

     “On average, traditional seeds yield six to eight tonnes per hectare, while planting with improved yam seeds yields about 30 to 40 tonnes per hectare, achieving more than 90 per cent success rates.This project is revitalising this essential crop by providing farmers with the tools they need to increase productivity, promote economic stability, and strengthen food security.” She noted that global interest in yam is rising, with the crop’s market value projected to grow from $38.83 million in 2025 to $47.47 million by 2030.

    The workshop also explored the nutritional dimension of agriculture. In her presentation, food systems consultant Dr. Olapeju Phorbe emphasised the need for diversified diets and safer food practices. “Nigeria is blessed with food diversity. If only people knew how to make better choices, they would live healthier lives. Food is medicine. If you don’t take food as medicine, medicine will become your food,” she said. She cautioned authorities against distributing expired or unsafe foods as palliatives, describing the practice as “dangerous and inhumane,” and challenged journalists to give greater visibility to nutrition issues at federal, state, and community levels.

    Data journalist Damilola Ojetunde, in his session titled Beyond the Headline: Uncovering Nigeria’s Nutrition Story with Data and Evidence, urged reporters to pay attention to indicators such as stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies, exclusive breastfeeding rates, dietary diversity, and food security metrics. Citing the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), he noted that stunting remains most severe in the North West at 57 per cent, compared to 18 per cent in the South East, with Kebbi State as high as 66 per cent and Anambra State at 14 per cent.

    Other facilitators at the training included UNICEF’s Sumit Karn, Nigeria Health Watch’s Chibuike Alagbaso, and Habibat Lawal.

  • A fresh push for agric

    A fresh push for agric

    • New measures will go a long way if well implemented

    Tuesday last week, the Federal Government released a slew of incentives designed to catalyse investment, raise output, and generate jobs as part of its ongoing reforms of the agricultural sector.

    Highlighting the measures at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s National and Sub regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima said they include single-window platforms for land registration, strengthened agricultural credit systems, large-scale mechanisation, and strategic irrigation projects.

    He spoke particularly of irrigation as a game-changer, noting that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares but currently uses less than 10 per cent. In his words: “Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks”.

    In all, the vice president believes that the measures alone could create 21 million jobs in rural communities as well as secure food and nutrition sufficiency in line with the 2021–2025 National Development Plan whose aim is to lift 35 million people out of poverty.

    We commend the Federal Government for not letting off on its aggressive push to modernise and transform our agricultural and livestock systems and practices. Surely, the measures could hardly be faulted on the ground of either lacking in lofty ambitions or in matters of realism, particularly when the size of our rural farming population, our vast material endowments and the multipliers are taken into account.

    It bears stressing that the issues underlying the latest reforms have been with us for as long as Nigerians can remember. The issue is, each successive government has pushed its own ideas of what needs to be done to transform the sector; yet, the problems have persisted.

    Among the problems are funds – both in terms of cost and access; the land holding system, the deplorable states of rural infrastructure and its concomitant limits on what is achievable, and the virtual collapse of extension services to facilitate the much needed transition to modern farming and livestock practices, among others.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu receives Ogoni dialogue report, orders immediate engagement for oil resumption

    Clearly, if there are lessons to take from the efforts of the immediate past administration in particular, it is how not to frame complex problems strictly in cash terms only. One telling example here is how the N1 trillion disbursed to over  4.6 million farmers under the CBN-led Anchor Borrowers Scheme remained substantially unaccounted for, with over N577 billion reportedly lost to defaults and an inability of farmers to repay loans by October 2023.

    The other is the rather unconventional situation in which the CBN chose to assume the role of the lender of first and last resort; and finally the fact that on the whole, the various initiatives tended to operate in silos.

    This time, we expect things to be different. In fact, Nigerians cannot wait to see the government speed things up on those measures it has highlighted. We consider the measures as bold, necessary, well-thought-out and doable.

    Yet, we understand that the real test will be the extent to which the government is able to muster the critical stakeholders to deliver on their part. From the banks, acting as lenders, to the states and local governments acting as facilitators, right up to states’ field extension units whose job is assist the farmers in whatever way they can, nothing can be said to be given; a lot certainly depends on the extent to which the disparate players are able to play their part.

    It is a tough call as it is.  Now that the Federal Government has laid out the plan, this seems the best time for the key players to step up their game. For the banks, to make credit available to farmers on agreeable terms; for the states to make good their long-declared willingness to collaborate with the centre for the shared objective, for them to strengthen their extension services, given the role of the latter as the touch-point for the specific measures.

  • A shot in the arm

    A shot in the arm

    • It is significant that lending to agric sector is rising, but interest rate still high

    There is undoubtedly a new institutional awakening to the credit needs of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This time, however, it is far from the usual fancy acronyms packaged as ‘intervention’, but a demand-driven, industry-led initiative that reflects not just the evolving dynamics of the sector, but one that may potentially chart a sustainable path to its future.

    According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), total lending to the agriculture sector rose – and this is quite significant – from N2.85 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2024 to N3.17 trillion in the first quarter of this year – an 11 per cent jump.

    The other report, equally noteworthy, is that the sector’s share of total credit also grew from 4.82 per cent to 5.36 per cent – although the report suggested that the increase somewhat “reflected preparation for wet season farming across the country.”

    And all of these happening in a season during which lending to the economy actually declined marginally quarter-on- quarter in the first three months of this year, occasioned by the tight monetary policy of the apex bank.

    “Overall ODCs’ (Other Depositary Corporations) credit to the economy”, the report noted, “declined marginally by 0.20 per cent to N59.10 trillion in the first quarter, from N59.22 trillion in December 2024. “The moderation reflects the contractionary monetary policy stance of the bank aimed at anchoring inflation expectations”, the report carefully noted.

    Not surprisingly, the report recorded the services sector as gulping most of the credit at 55.21 per cent, followed by industry (39.97 per cent). On the whole, it found agriculture sector to have contributed 23.33 percent to the GDP compared with 57.50 per cent for the services sector in the first quarter of 2025.

    We must commend our lenders for making the modest achievement happen. A far cry from the usual, poorly conceived, government-engineered initiative that more often than not ended up as another elegantly-packaged bazaar, it is an affirmation of much that could be done when the conditions are right.

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    One implication is that the local lenders are increasingly embracing the onerous responsibility of ensuring that the credit needs of the sector are being met. The other is that the sector’s operatives have themselves also risen to the challenge of upping their games without which their credit needs will remain unmet.

    Either way, the development cannot but bode well for the economy and so deserves to be celebrated and worked upon. In other words, it is a promising new beginning.

    Yet, as important as the trend is, several questions remain. Talk of the big elephant in the room: the prohibitive interest rates being charged by the commercial banks.  At the current double-digit rates, it is a notorious fact that the farmers still stand little or no chance of being competitive with their peers internationally, not to talk of breaking even. Not with the poor shape of logistics from the farm gates to the markets, the still record level post-harvest losses, the overall poor productivity and the countless other vagaries that continue to present farming as high risk vocation.

    To compound the situation is the question of access by farmers to formal credit, particularly at a time the majority of the farming population are largely small holders with relatively limited education.

    Of course, it is precisely the reason that the Bank of Agriculture exists, hence the urgent imperative to overhaul it as the Federal Government had in March promised to do. Expediting the bank’s recapitalisation will certainly provide a major boost to the ongoing efforts to deepen financial inclusion among the operatives of this sector.

    We must also state that the problem of the sector is not all about credit. Like other sectors, it is also ill-served by infrastructure. So were the age-long extension services which provided the critical bridge between government programmes, particularly in the areas of intervention, whether in terms of farm inputs, advisory services or machinery.

    What the reports across the states suggest is a dire need of their overhaul. Given that these are the areas in which their efforts could be most impactful, the states and local governments will certainly do well to pay greater attention to them. 

  • Experts seek more soil testing labs to boost agric

    Experts seek more soil testing labs to boost agric

    Agricultural experts have called for an increase in the number of functional soil testing laboratories nationwide, asserting that such an investment is crucial to unlocking the full potential of the sector beyond its N19.3 trillion contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

     Nigeria’s agricultural sector recorded a year-on-year growth of 0.07 per cent in real GDP in the first quarter of this year, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Experts call for a boost in infrastructure   in soil testing across the 774 local government councils, arguing that it is the critical step to address declining soil fertility, and ensuring long-term food security.

    An industry expert, Caleb Usoh, said agricultural productivity will remain below potential unless soil testing is integrated into a comprehensive, farmer-focused approach.

    Speaking on the importance of soil testing laboratories in agriculture, Usoh, who is Head of Business Development Africa, OCP Africa, highlighted the vital role of such facilities.

    He said: “This is not just about the lab. It’s a holistic approach to fixing the issues, whereby the lab is just one of the problems you have to fix.”

    Read Also: New agric blue print unveiled

    He expressed concern over the common trend of state governments establishing agricultural laboratories without complementary measures to ensure their effective use. “I have a problem where the state goes to establish a lab, and every other aspect or dimension that should fix agriculture alongside the lab is not working.”

    According to him, building a laboratory and walking away does not guarantee better yields.

    “It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, there’s a lab.’

     You go and build a laboratory, equip it, and walk away. People are not using it. Five years down the line, you count it as one of those aspects that is not optimized,” he noted.

    Usoh said the value lies in cultivating awareness among farmers about the importance of testing to understand soil health before planting. “It’s to build a culture in our farmers for the need for soil testing to know the health of their soils for farming, firstly,” he explained.

    He said government programmes must go beyond infrastructure to ensure that equipment providers supply fertilizer tailored to specific soil conditions. “In government programmes, they should start thinking of paying more in whatever assistance they are giving to farmers in terms of specialty fertilizer to fix the need of individual soil,” Usoh said.

    However, he warned that a single lab cannot serve an entire state effectively. “Having one lab in an entire state or entire local government cannot fix the problem of soil tests. Everybody cannot come across probably 100 or 200 kilometers to one particular place to do soil tests,” he pointed out.

    Usoh recommended that soil testing services be expanded through private sector participation. “It should be in the hands of commercial entities to provide these services across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he concluded.  OCP Africa has established mobile soil labs in Morocco and other African countries, bringing testing directly to rural communities and providing farmers with accessible information and guidance.

    A  Professor of Soil Science in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Uche Cyprian Amalu, underscored the critical need for a robust network of soil testing laboratories across Nigeria.

     He emphasised that empowering universities to establish and adequately equip these labs is paramount to boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable land management, particularly for farmers in rural areas.

    He   highlighted the immense benefits of readily accessible soil data. “It’s very, very important for the government to have soil labs in different towns, where farmers can bring soil samples for testing. The soil test centres can give the soil information to the farmer.”

     He further advocated for this initiative to be implemented nationwide, ideally on a local government basis, to create comprehensive soil resource data for each area.

    According to. Amalu, such a database would empower agricultural stakeholders. “If anybody’s going to a particular area, we can easily assess and tell them exactly about the gravity of the limitation of the soil of that area. This detailed information would be invaluable for advising farmers on optimal land use for various crops such as cassava and maize, ultimately helping them maintain or manage the soil to make it sustainable for the community.”

    Acknowledging the challenges faced by farmers in remote areas who may struggle to access urban-based labs, Amalu reiterated the vital role of universities. He suggested that university-based labs could serve as regional hubs, while also operating mobile soil labs, to reach farmers in the interior. “

    Addressing concerns about the sheer number of labs needed for 774 local governments and potential resource constraints, Amalu proposed a strategic approach. He suggested leveraging existing infrastructure within universities and agricultural institutes. “The 774 local governments we are talking about, we have the universities and the institutes there. Some of them have labs,” he noted. He believes that with government support, “the university can cover at least about five local governments.”

  • ‘Nigeria’s development uncertain without agric, education, engineering’

    ‘Nigeria’s development uncertain without agric, education, engineering’

    • By Oreoluwa Oluga

    Anthony Nwachukwu Isiani, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, went for his compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme. Like all freshly baked graduates, he was burning with high enthusiasm to serve his fatherland as best he could.

    Buoyed by patriotic fervour, he had no qualms serving in a secondary school where he was tasked with ensuring senior class students passed their mathematics in flying colours at the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) and similar exams, which he achieved without breaking a sweat.

    Apparently inspired by the overwhelming success recorded in Introductory Technology (now called Basic Technology), the school authorities asked him to replicate the feat with Mathematics, and later added Further Mathematics and Technical Drawing.

    Though challenging, the sacrifice was worth it. Brimming with ideas and raw talent, Isiani tried to help students assimilate but didn’t get the desired results. Not one to give up easily, he tasked his creative ingenuity and began a long search for solutions to problems associated with understanding Mathematics and its theories.

    This painstaking effort sowed the seed that birthed School Development Support International (SDS) Limited almost three decades ago. Despite getting juicy offers to work at blue-chip companies, including oil and gas and automobile industries, Isiani stayed true to his conviction: to make the world better than he met it, with a focus on education.

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    SDS Limited, a homegrown company, has crafted and designed over nine solutions to aid teaching and make it fun, fulfilling, and enjoyable.

    Addressing journalists at his corporate headquarters in Lagos, Isiani demonstrated his inventions, including writing desks, chairs, tables, laboratory rooms, and remote-controlled audiovisual learning and monitoring screens.

    Isiani, who founded SDS International 27 years ago at 28, said the company was a child of necessity. “I didn’t plan to go into teaching, but divine direction led me to the classroom,” he said. With all the requirements to start a formal school, Isiani opted to remain a solution provider to all schools, supporting the industry to the best of his ability.

    SDS International Limited is a maker of schools, providing top-quality education materials and nine proven solutions that are original to the company.

    Isiani’s vision is to support humanity through Education Engineering, and he plans to achieve this by providing free training for teachers and developing more innovative solutions.

    Interestingly, all SDS products from chairs, desks, writing tablets, markers, audiovisual equipment are crafted and designed with the school environment in mind.

    An elated Isiani who was beside himself with joyous ecstasy, later shared important milestones about the dream he envisioned some years ago.

    “SDS was born 27 years ago in June,” Isiani recalled, adding emphatically that the company was indeed a child of necessity.

    “I was 28 years old when I set up SDS International 27 years ago. I didn’t plan to go into teaching in the first place but it was through divine direction that I found myself inside the classroom and I became a classroom teacher par excellence. But then, I knew that if I stayed there for 20 years or more, nobody was going to discover me, to the extent of making me a school principal because I didn’t have the requisite educational qualifications to stay in the classroom for that length of time. So with that in mind, I left teaching and joined an oil servicing company. But just within 30 months I resigned my appointment and decided to do exploits in the classroom,” he stressed.

    The Enugu-born engineer who says he has all it takes to conveniently start a school of his own, said he totally jettisoned the idea because of its limiting factor.

    “I have got all the requirements for me to start a formal school on my own but I dismissed the whole idea because it was going to limit my vision and scope. But rather opted to remain a solution provider to all schools, which is a more broad-based assignment for me. The most important thing for me as an engineer is I want to support the industry to the best of my ability.”

    According to the visionary and founder of SDS International Limited, his vision is to support humanity as best he can using his expertise in Education Engineering.

    As a business, SDS has reached a level where it’s no longer just about profit but about giving back to society. Isiani wants to redouble his efforts in doing more philanthropic gestures, saying, “We are planning free training for teachers to better equip them on advanced teaching methodology.”

    Isiani believes the nation’s education sector, as handed down by the colonial masters, is faulty, and that’s why the country’s socioeconomic development and growth has remained stunted.

    He has developed a concept called The Trinity of Human Development, which includes agriculture, education, and engineering.

    According to him, if any country prioritizes these areas, it would succeed in every other area.

  • Stakeholders demand urgent overhaul of agric budget

    Stakeholders demand urgent overhaul of agric budget

    A powerful chorus of voices from across Nigeria’s agriculture sector has called for a radical rethinking of the nation’s agricultural financing and policy implementation. This was the key outcome of a high-level National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2026 Agriculture Budget, convened  in Lagos. The event, attended by over 130 participants from government, civil society, academia, donor agencies, and farmer groups, offered a sobering diagnosis of Nigeria’s deepening food and farming crisis—alongside bold recommendations for systemic reform.

    Organised collaboratively by ActionAid Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, GIZ’s Global Programme AgSys Nigeria, and the ECOWAS Commission, the three-day summit was a pivotal moment in a country battling worsening hunger, declining farm productivity, and mounting insecurity.

    With the 2026 agriculture budget cycle on the horizon, stakeholders gathered to align Nigeria’s spending plans with key national and continental frameworks—including the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), the 2025 Kampala Declaration for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) under the African Union’s Malabo Declaration.

    In a communique issued at the end of the forum, stakeholders noted that despite recurring promises by successive governments to prioritise agriculture, the sector remains hobbled by chronic underinvestment and implementation failures. In 2024, according to the stakeholders, just 4.2 per cent  of the national budget was allocated to agriculture, a figure that plunged to 1.2 per cent in 2025—far below the 10 per cent  commitment Nigeria made under the 2003 Maputo and 2014 Malabo Declarations.

    The budgetary neglect, the firm noted ,was happening as over 30 million Nigerians across 26 states and the FCT are projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity during the ongoing lean season.

    Stakeholders lamented that insecurity, ranging from terrorism and banditry to farmer-herder clashes, continues to displace farmers and destroy farmlands, worsening an already precarious food supply chain.

    They noted also that climate change has further aggravated the crisis,adding that between 2022 and 2024, Nigeria experienced devastating floods, with over 1.1 million hectares of farmland submerged in 2024 alone. Soil degradation, poor infrastructure, high post-harvest losses, rising input costs, and limited access to credit,the stakeholders observed, were among other pressing concerns raised.

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    “Despite our immense agricultural potential, the country is increasingly dependent on food imports while our farmers struggle to access land, credit, seeds, and safety,” said the forum , echoing the frustration of many. “What we need is more than a budget—what we need is political will, accountability, and urgency.

    The meeting also spotlighted deep structural inequalities within the  agricultural systems, continuing that although women and youth make up the backbone of the sector, they remain largely excluded from access to inputs, credit, land, extension services, and decision-making.

    They referred to  the National Agricultural Gender Policy, which stipulated that women should receive at least 35 per cent  of agriculture funding. However, stakeholders observed that this target is rarely met in practice. Furthermore,that young people—who constitute over 60 per cent  of Nigeria’s population—along with persons with disabilities (PWDs), are consistently marginalized in planning and resource allocation.

    The meeting further raised concern on the status of the customary land tenure systems that continue to deny women, youth, and PWDs access to secure land rights, severely limiting their ability to scale farming operations or access agricultural loans. Even when agricultural inputs are subsidised, the meeting indicated tat they often arrive late or are distributed through opaque channels, further disadvantageing the most vulnerable.

    As their recommendations, the stakeholders called  on the Presidency to lead a national agricultural revival by making agriculture a true top priority. This includes raising agriculture’s share of the national budget to at least 10 percenrt with timely and front-loaded releases that align with the farming calendar.

    Participants urged the decentralisation of agricultural security to enable state and local authorities to protect farmers more effectively. Insecurity, they argued, must be treated not just as a security threat, but a major barrier to food security and economic stability.

    Additionally, the forum called for the establishment of a transparent, digital monitoring system to track agricultural spending and deter corruption. Inclusion was another strong theme. Stakeholders demanded that at least 35 per cent  of agriculture funding be ring-fenced for women, youth, and PWDs, with dedicated budget lines and clear accountability measures.

    They also emphasised the need to invest in rural infrastructure, including feeder roads, cold storage, and modular processing facilities. Funding for climate-smart agriculture, such as drought-resistant crops, organic inputs, biopesticides, and afforestation projects, was also highlighted as a critical priority.

    To address persistent farmer-herder conflicts, the meeting proposed the development of hybrid pasture farms to provide secure feed sources for livestock herders. Innovation hubs and youth farm clusters were also recommended to encourage agri-tech entrepreneurship among young people.

    The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) was urged to play a more central role in financing and monitoring, with unspent capital votes from government ministries proposed as a potential non-donor source of consistent funding.

    As Nigeria braces for another volatile farming season, the stakeholders maintained that without immediate and sustained action, millions of Nigerians risk being plunged deeper into hunger and poverty. But with the right leadership, investment, and inclusion, they maintained that agriculture could yet become the foundation for national transformation.

  • A bold mission to reclaim Nigeria’s agricultural glory

    A bold mission to reclaim Nigeria’s agricultural glory

    Once the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy, agriculture was sidelined for decades in the wake of the oil boom. Now, at the midpoint of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the sector is staging a bold comeback. Faced with soaring food prices, insecurity and climate threats, Tinubu has launched sweeping reforms aimed at transforming agriculture into a modern, productive and resilient engine of growth—capable of feeding the nation and driving true economic diversification, reports JULIANA AGBO

    For decades, agriculture has stood as both a symbol of Nigeria’s rich potential and its persistent struggles. Once the cornerstone of the nation’s economy, the sector gradually faded into the background following the oil boom of the 1970s. Today, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, agriculture is again being summoned to the frontlines—not as a relic of the past, but as a strategic engine for national revival.

    As the administration crosses its halfway mark, President Tinubu has unveiled a sweeping vision to rejuvenate this crucial sector. His goal is not merely to return agriculture to a place of prominence but to redefine it as a modern, commercially viable enterprise capable of feeding a burgeoning population, creating millions of jobs, and diversifying the economy away from oil dependency. The administration’s intentions became immediately clear when, just weeks into office, President Tinubu declared a national emergency on food security in July 2023. The announcement came against a backdrop of skyrocketing food prices, worsened by the removal of fuel subsidies and ongoing insecurity in rural communities.

    Recognising the urgency, the government swiftly released fertilisers and grains from national strategic reserves, providing immediate relief to farmers and vulnerable households. In tandem, Tinubu ordered a harmonisation of efforts between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to enable all-season farming through expanded irrigation. To stabilise food prices and strengthen food reserves, the government proposed the establishment of a National Commodity Board. This board is expected to act as a buffer against price shocks by purchasing and stockpiling essential food items during periods of surplus. These early interventions reflected more than just a crisis response—they signalled a strategic shift. The government began mobilising a coalition of stakeholders—seed companies, farmers’ associations, microfinance institutions, and agro-processors—toward a unified national food security mission.

    At the heart of Tinubu’s agricultural push are a suite of bold initiatives designed to increase productivity, encourage innovation, and make farming a sustainable enterprise. The Agro-Pocket Initiative, under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, is one of the flagship programmes. Its target: to cultivate 750,000 hectares of land across the country for staple crops such as rice, maize, wheat, and cassava. This initiative aims to boost cropping intensity and expand food output by offering targeted support—including input vouchers—to farmers.

    In a move to cushion the harsh effects of inflation on consumers, the administration announced a 150-day suspension of duties and tariffs on the importation of essential food items, including rice, maize, and wheat. The government also facilitated the import of 250,000 metric tonnes each of maize and wheat, primarily for use by small-scale processors and millers. Meanwhile, recognising the pivotal role of knowledge transfer, the government unveiled a new National Agricultural Extension Policy. The reform reimagines extension services to be demand-driven, ICT-enabled, and market-oriented—marking a shift from outdated methods to modern, tech-savvy outreach capable of reaching farmers across all regions.

    Perhaps one of the most far-reaching structural interventions has been the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, a first in Nigeria’s history. This landmark move aims to modernise animal husbandry, promote dairy and meat production, and address the longstanding conflict between herders and farmers—conflicts that have left many communities devastated and farmlands abandoned.

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    Challenges along the path

    Despite the wave of reforms and fresh momentum, Nigeria’s agricultural transformation faces a number of entrenched obstacles that threaten to stall progress. Rising input costs, exacerbated by the subsidy removal, remain a major burden. The cost of fertiliser, agrochemicals, and transport has surged, leaving many smallholder farmers and poultry operators either scaling back or ceasing operations altogether. The affordability crisis is particularly acute in rural areas where access to finance is limited.

    Insecurity continues to be one of the gravest threats. Banditry, insurgency, and farmer-herder clashes have rendered vast swathes of land uncultivable. In several states, entire communities have fled, leaving behind fallow fields and an increasingly fragile food production system. Beyond these, poor infrastructure remains a persistent bottleneck. Rural roads are dilapidated, storage facilities are scarce, and cold chain logistics are virtually non-existent in many parts of the country. The result? Post-harvest losses estimated at up to 40%, slashing farmer incomes and reducing national food supply.

    The climate crisis adds another layer of complexity. In 2024, torrential floods displaced thousands and submerged countless hectares of farmland. These increasingly frequent weather extremes—droughts, delayed rains, pest invasions—underscore the need for a climate-resilient agricultural strategy. Compounding these woes is chronic underfunding. Despite agriculture’s critical role, the sector received just 1.3% of the proposed 2025 national budget—far below the 10% benchmark pledged under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). This funding shortfall hinders everything from research and mechanisation to farmer support and value-chain development.

    What experts are saying

    Speaking with The Nation, agricultural economist Dr Tijjani Abdulkadir commended the administration’s efforts but emphasised that sustained investment and inclusive policymaking are key to lasting success. “President Tinubu has shown commendable intent with his early policy actions,” he said. “However, intent must translate into impact. What we need now is a multi-year, well-financed agricultural roadmap that prioritises smallholder farmers, value chain development, and climate-smart practices.” He added that agricultural development should be central to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, noting that the sector holds immense potential to create jobs, boost exports, and lift millions out of poverty.

    In a similar manner, Malam Isa Yakubu, a veteran agriculturist, urged the government to scale up its commitment by aligning national spending with CAADP goals. “Raising agricultural allocation to at least 10% of the national budget would be a game-changer,” he noted. “We could then invest meaningfully in rural roads, irrigation, research, and extension.”

    Beyond policies and plans, voices from the grassroots paint a vivid picture of daily challenges and aspirations. Agnes Utah, a farmer based in Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, underscored the need for tailored security strategies. “Community policing, local intelligence, and collaboration with traditional rulers can help secure our farms,” she said. “Right now, many of us live in fear. We need protection to keep growing food.” Utah also called for enhanced rural infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access. “With better storage and transport, we can earn more and waste less,” she added. “And with climate change getting worse, we need drought-resistant seeds, modern irrigation, and early warning systems to survive.”

    Agriculture, long romanticised as the heartbeat of Nigeria, is finally being given the attention it deserves. President Tinubu’s agricultural agenda is ambitious, layered, and responsive to both immediate crises and long-term imperatives. It blends emergency response with structural reform, public support with private sector involvement. But agriculture is not transformed by pronouncements alone. It demands sustained commitment, cross-sectoral coordination, and, above all, the political will to make difficult choices.

    At this halfway point of Tinubu’s tenure, the seeds of change have been sown. Whether they blossom into a bountiful harvest of prosperity depends on what comes next—how the administration consolidates gains, confronts remaining hurdles, and empowers the millions whose lives depend on the soil. As the nation watches, hope lingers on the horizon. Nigeria’s agricultural future remains unwritten—but perhaps, with the right tools and tillers, it may yet be golden.

  • Kaduna leads Nigeria’s agric revolution with SAPZ launch

    Kaduna leads Nigeria’s agric revolution with SAPZ launch

    • By Abel Musa

    It was a bustling affair on Wednesday as the Vice President, Kashm Shettima, laid the foundation for the construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna. And with that move,, Kaduna made history as the first Nigerian state to launch SAPZ.

    Indeed, when it comes to agri-business, Kaduna is damn serious and this is testament of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment.

    “You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is – you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Adesina said, referring to Sani’s input to developing agriculture in the state, particularly his input to SAPZ, an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in conjunction with the federal government as well as other state governments.

    “Kaduna’s leadership on this project reflects not just a vision for food security, but a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development. You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. This is a great day for us all. We’re proud to partner with a government that listens, that leads with compassion, and that is open to all.”

    Backed with an investment of $538 million in SAPZ from AfDB, this initiative is set to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s agricultural revolution. In its first phase, the initiative aims to add value to the agri-sector in eight locations – Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. It would connect  2,300 hectares of irrigated land and farms to market access roads. In Kaduna, SAPZ is focusing on tomato, maize, and ginger, three crops which the state has a comparative advantage in its production.

    According to AfDB, the huge investment in SAPZ is to address Nigeria’s $4.9 billion annual food security challenge and transform the country to global agribusiness leader. And in this light, it’s great that the bank is partnering with Kaduna. Adesina said this alignment would see the bank supporting Kaduna State in expanding school feeding programs and integrating them with the new processing zones. He also pledged additional support for primary health care improvements, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digitalization. It should however, be noted that this scheme is not peculiar to Nigeria but rather it is Africa-wide.

    “The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone is about developing new economic zones across Africa, close to where farmers are,” Adesina had explained elsewhere, stating that AfDB is investing over $3 billion in more than 11 countries. However, pertaining to Nigeria, an earlier statement by AfDB indicated the aim of SPAZ.

    “The initiative is being launched at a critical time as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy and combat rising food insecurity,” the statement read. “Kaduna and Cross River States will lead this agricultural transformation, marking a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s approach to agribusiness and food security. With an unprecedented investment of $538 million, SAPZ Phase 1 marks the African Development Bank’s largest programme in any African country to date, underscoring the scale and significance of this undertaking. The SAPZ initiative embodies President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening food security, generating sustainable employment opportunities, and revitalizing peri-urban economies through innovative public-private partnerships.”

    In his remarks, Sani said that the launch of the SAPZ is very dear to Kaduna State. He also lauded Dr. Adesina’s intervention in transforming agriculture across the continent and described him as “a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity.” He reiterated how Akinwunmi’s tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture benefited more than 15 million smallholder farmers across the country through his E-wallet initiative. According to Akinwunmi, the initiative would transform and address the challenges of financial exclusion faced by smallholder farmers.

    “It could have also addressed the problem of insecurity we are facing in Northern Nigeria,” Sani said, referring to the SAPZ.

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    “In Kaduna, agriculture contributes about 42 percent of our GDP and accounts for about 60 percent of employment in the state. This is why we believe insecurity has hindered much of the development we could have achieved through agriculture. Because we believe it is one of the most important sectors to invest in, part of what we did was to increase the agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, which we inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget. By doing that, we became the first sub-national government to achieve the 10 percent target of the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which set the goal of allocating 10 percent of the budget to agriculture.”

    In terms of developing the agriculture sector in the state, the Sani-administration deserves its flowers. Among the states, Kaduna leads in the cultivation of ginger. It produces bountiful amounts of crops like rice, maize, millet, soybean, groundnut and tomatoes. It would also surprise some people that Kaduna produces grapes, especially around Kudan Local Government Area which is responsible for 85% of the total grape production in the country.  And since assuming office, the Sani administration has also partnered with the private sector. It inked a $120m deal with StarAgri West Africa Limited to modernise state-owned warehouses and silos and deploy an electronic warehousing system in five years. The state also partnered with Sunagrow International Oil Ltd to build a $50 million soya bean oil refining plant in Kutungare, Igabi Local Government Area, capable of producing 500,000 litres per day.

    The Kaduna State government has also intensified on building rural roads to connect farmers from their farms to the markets. Also, with the Kaduna Model, which incorporates security agencies with the various stakeholders in the communities, insecurity is being eradicated across the state. In places like Birnin-Gwari, which used to be a stronghold of criminality, normalcy has been restored, with farmers returning to their farms and markets re-opened. Then, it is interesting to note that the administration audaciously increased its budget for agriculture from N1.4b in 2023 to N74b in 2025.

    In the first phase, the SAPZ is targeting eight states. And already, AfDB secured a $2.2 billion commitment for the Nigerian Phase 2 SAPZ at the recent Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco. While the second phase of SAPZ will bring onboard the other 28 states later, it is pertinent to remind the other state governors that they can preempt whatever AfDB intends to do. Take the case of Kaduna for instance. The present enviable position of Kaduna in terms of agriculture was revitalised by the current administration. All over Nigeria is arable land and other state governors can copy the little ‘agricultural’ steps of Sani as a blueprint for success.

    In less than two years as governor, Sani’s sterling performance across different sectors has earned him praise and accolades from diverse persons. And with the setting up of the SAPZ in Kaduna, there would be increased value-added to these agro-products which hitherto were solely disposed of in their raw forms. This move has started earning the governor laurels. Hear how the visionary AfDB president lauded Sani with endearing words, describing him as “a model leader – he’s a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.” The governor has definitely worked hard to earn the praises.

  • Rural agric hubs to drive growth

    Rural agric hubs to drive growth

    The African Union – Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has stated that it is collaborating with the Federal Government and various stakeholders to implement a bold plan aimed at transforming the livestock industry.

    Under the collaboration, AU-IBAR  seeks  the establishment of  a multimillion-dollar industry throughout Nigeria that fosters rural development and creates numerous employment opportunities.

    Experts suggest that Nigeria possesses the capacity to enhance its share of the global livestock market, valued at $1.72 trillion, particularly through pastoral farming. Presently, the Nigerian livestock sector is valued at N30 trillion, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 1.2 per cent through 2026.

    According to, the Project Lead of the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform at AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed Elbeltagy, one proposed strategy  to be considered is the creation of strategically positioned rural livestock hubs in various part of Nigeria  aimed at modernising agricultural practices and empowering local farmers. The hubs envisioned as centres for innovation and education, he indicated, would  integrate advanced technologies and sustainable methods. He  noted that the facilities will include hydroponic farms to guarantee a steady supply of high-quality feed and facilitate year-round production of nutrient-dense fodder for cattle. This initiative, he emphasised, would tackle the issue of seasonal feed shortages and improve the overall efficiency of livestock farming.

    He noted that another aspect of the hub is the demonstration plots, which highlight best practices in animal husbandry, feed management, and disease control. These plots, he explained, will function as practical learning environments, facilitating knowledge transfer and enabling farmers to embrace modern techniques.

    He emphasised the significant role of the livestock sector in enhancing livelihoods, ensuring food security, and contributing to Nigeria’s economy.

    He stressed the need for strategic efforts to develop the livestock sector, aiming for a substantial impact on the economy, especially in rural regions. He expressed confidence in the potential for livestock trade, with AU-IBAR collaborating with Nigeria to promote sustainable industry growth and encourage innovation for economic diversification.

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    He stressed that AU-IBAR is eager to take advantage of the opportunity of its partnership with Nigeria to establish robust and sustainable livestock systems and to confront the challenges posed by shortages in food systems.

    Earlier this year, the APMD Platform was launched  in Kenya with the objective of improving livelihoods, promoting economic sustainability, and enhancing resilience within Africa’s pastoral communities.

    The Minister for Livestock Development, Hon. Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commended the initiative for its emphasis on empowering women and youth, enhancing food security, and fostering resilience against climate change.

    He stated, “The effective execution of the APMD project will play a crucial role in advancing national economic development and food security throughout the continent.”

    Kenya and Nigeria have been recognized as “Lighthouse Countries” due to their strategic significance, while Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger have been selected as outreach countries for focused interventions.

    In the Stakeholder’s Inception and Official Launch Workshop, participants assessed and confirmed the results of the Baseline Assessments, identified key areas for action and intervention, finalised action plans and implementation strategies, and formally inaugurated APMD Platform at both country and regional levels. The workshop focused on reviewing the baseline assessment, determining priority action areas, and discussing intervention plans and modalities. Approximately 50 participants were present, representing various stakeholders and actors within the Pastoral Livestock Marketing Chain from the two primary countries (Kenya and Nigeria) and strategic outreach nations (Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Niger). Additionally, representatives from Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, IGAD, ECCAS, ECOWAS), AUC bodies, regional and international financial and development partners, Livestock Producer Organisations, and research institutions engaged in the pastoral sector were also in attendance.