ActionAid Nigeria has called on the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) to prioritise strategic investments in key agricultural sectors that can reduce poverty, end hunger, and stimulate economic growth.
Mr. Azubike Nwokoye, Food Systems Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, made the appeal on Monday at the 47th Regular Meeting of the NCAFS in Kaduna. The meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with ActionAid and other partners, had as its theme “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope.”
Nwokoye identified priority areas for investment to include access to credit, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction, extension services, youth and women participation, agroecology, rural infrastructure, and agricultural produce transportation.
He expressed concern that only 20 per cent of smallholder farmers across the country currently have access to credit, a situation he described as “extremely inadequate” for a nation seeking food sovereignty.
“Farmers need easy and affordable access to credit to expand production and innovate. This will go a long way in ensuring food security and sovereignty nationwide,” Nwokoye said.
He further lamented the decline in agricultural extension services, revealing that only 5.26 per cent of farmers currently have access to demonstration farms for practical learning.
“Post-harvest losses remain unacceptably high, with only 18 per cent of smallholder farmers having access to storage facilities and just 9.6 per cent enjoying reliable transportation within rural communities,” he said.
According to him, weak rural infrastructure and poor road networks continue to limit farmers’ ability to move produce from farms to markets, further worsening post-harvest losses.
“Investment in rural infrastructure and market access—currently below 40 per cent—is essential to revitalise Nigeria’s food system,” he added.
The ActionAid representative also cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that 50.8 million Nigerian youths remain unemployed, noting that agriculture offers a critical opportunity to engage young people productively.
He called for stronger youth engagement in agriculture, stressing that empowering young farmers would drive growth, increase productivity, and ensure food system sustainability.
Nwokoye said the 2025 NCAFS theme presents a strategic platform for policy advocacy, increased budgetary allocation, and the promotion of agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices across Nigeria.
He explained that the NCAFS serves as a central policy body comprising the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, state commissioners for agriculture, lawmakers, and other stakeholders responsible for shaping the country’s agricultural policies.
“The council’s deliberations aim to promote inclusive and gender-responsive policies that empower smallholder farmers, strengthen food systems, and build resilience against climate-related shocks,” he said.
Nwokoye reaffirmed ActionAid Nigeria’s commitment to supporting policies that advance sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation, noting that the organisation’s continued participation in NCAFS reflects its long-term partnership with the ministry and other sector stakeholders.
