By Felicia Imohimi
ActionAid Nigeria has urged the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security to prioritise investment in key agricultural areas capable of reducing poverty, eradicating hunger, and promoting economic growth.
Mr Azubike Nwokoye, Food Systems Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, made the call on Monday at the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna.
The meeting was convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and other stakeholders.
The theme was “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope”.
Nwokoye listed critical areas needing investment as 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 36 states and the FCT have access to credit, saying the percentage was extremely low and inadequate.
“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,” he added.
Nwokoye decried the poor state of extension services and access to demonstration farms, noting that only 5.26 per cent of farmers currently have access to demonstration plots for learning.
“Post-harvest losses remain high, only 18 per cent of smallholder farmers have access to storage facilities, while just 9.6 per cent enjoy reliable transportation within rural communities”.
He said poor infrastructure continues to hinder farmers’ ability to transport produce to markets.
“Investment in rural infrastructure and market access, which currently stands below 40 per cent, is essential”.
Nwokoye also expressed concern over the high level of youth unemployment, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that 50.8 million young people remain unemployed across the country.
He called for stronger investment in youth engagement in agriculture, describing it as a vital opportunity to drive national growth, boost food production, and secure sustainable livelihoods for millions.
Nwokoye said the 2025 NCAFS theme provides a strategic platform for policy advocacy towards increased public investment, budget releases, and promotion of agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
He noted that the NCAFS serves as a platform for deliberation and approval of national agricultural policies and programmes aimed at transforming the nation’s food and agricultural systems sustainably.
According to him, the council supports adoption of inclusive, gender-responsive agricultural policies that enhance smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, empower young people, and strengthen food systems to withstand climate-related shocks effectively.
“ActionAid’s participation in NCAFS highlights its long-term collaboration with the ministry and its ongoing commitment to inclusive, sustainable agricultural transformation across Nigeria,” Nwokoye said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCAFS is Nigeria’s highest agriculture policy body, comprising FMAFS, state Commissioners for Agriculture, lawmakers, and key sector stakeholders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
