The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has called for inclusive growth and greater value addition in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, emphasizing the pivotal role of smallholder farmers in achieving national food security and economic transformation.
Speaking at the Annual General Assembly of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the Deputy Speaker highlighted the Central Bank’s 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook, which projects agricultural GDP growth of 3.5%–4.5%, driven by increased investment in farming inputs, extension services, and post-harvest infrastructure.
He noted, however, that growth in a sector encompassing over 40 million farming households would mean little if it benefited only large-scale operators while smallholders remained trapped in subsistence cycles. “Our challenge is not merely to grow agriculture, but to grow agriculture inclusively,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker commended the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for prioritizing agriculture, citing policy measures such as the removal of fuel subsidies, the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP), the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), and the declaration of a national state of emergency in food security. According to him, these initiatives have begun yielding tangible results in key agricultural zones.
He stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation would largely depend on incremental gains from smallholder farms, which, when multiplied across millions of households, could significantly increase national output, create jobs, and stabilize local economies.
Highlighting the country’s export potential, he pointed out that Nigeria exports roughly $3 billion (₦4.44 trillion) annually in raw agricultural products like cocoa, cashew, and sesame, while countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and India generate far higher revenues through value-added processing. He called for a strategic push toward export diversification, agro-processing, and industrial clusters, which could create millions of jobs and generate over $10 billion in foreign exchange annually.
The Deputy Speaker urged AFAN leadership to engage government on priority constraints, develop sector-wide roadmaps for major commodities, and establish working groups on finance, infrastructure, technology, and markets. He also called on state governments to allocate at least 5% of budgets to agricultural infrastructure and on the private sector to invest in processing, logistics, and market systems while partnering with smallholders.
“Farmers are not asking for charity; they are building wealth and feeding a nation,” he said, urging smallholders to embrace technology, increase productivity, and demand the infrastructure and services they deserve.
He concluded by emphasizing that agriculture is central to Nigeria’s future, noting that each productivity gain strengthens social stability, creates jobs, and ensures food security. “The future of food security rests not on government alone, but on the collective action of AFAN and millions of Nigerians who till the soil and feed the nation,” he said.
National President of AFAN, Alhaji Dr. Farouk Rabiu-Mudi, said the Assembly aims to address persistent challenges in the sector, including limited access to finance and inputs, weak institutional coordination, inadequate extension services, low innovation adoption, and insufficient benefits from public investment.
“Agriculture is central to Nigeria’s economy, providing livelihoods, food security, employment, and income for millions. This Assembly seeks to ensure farmers are at the heart of policy, investment, and development planning,” he said.
The three-day programme will focus on key priorities, beginning with Day One, which will strengthen AFAN’s capacity to implement the National Agricultural Policy and enhance coordination of policy dialogue with farmers. Day Two will center on engaging the private sector to drive agribusiness growth, develop value chains, and attract investment into the agricultural sector. The final day, Day Three, will emphasize innovation, research collaboration, and grassroots farmer empowerment, with particular focus on technology adoption, improved seed systems, efficient fertiliser supply chains, and expanded market opportunities for farmers.
The Assembly will bring together farmers from across the country, agribusiness investors, policymakers, financial institutions, NGOs, research institutions, and technical experts. It will feature plenary discussions, technical workshops, strategy sessions, and consultative dialogues to ensure broad participation and practical outcomes.
Key deliverables include an official communiqué, an AFAN institutional strengthening plan, a national agricultural advocacy framework, and strategies for farmer empowerment and coordinated resource allocation.
According to Dr. Rabiu-Mudi, the 2026 Assembly represents a strategic milestone in advancing inclusive, productive, and sustainable agriculture in Nigeria, ensuring that farmers are not merely participants but drivers of economic and social development.
“Through this Assembly, we aim to create a unified platform where farmers’ voices are heard, their needs addressed, and partnerships forged for a more prosperous agricultural sector,” he added.
Deputy Speaker Urges Inclusive Growth, Value Addition at AFAN Annual Assembly
