The Federal Government has called for stronger agricultural value chains, increased agro-industrialisation and improved market access to boost food security in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, made the call on Monday in Enugu during the technical session of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security.
The event’s theme was “Enhancing Agricultural Value Chains, Agro-Industrialisation and Market Access for Economic Growth.”
Ogunbiyi, who chaired the technical session, said the country must move beyond subsistence farming and embrace a commercially driven agricultural system that can support industries, increase farmers’ incomes and expand export opportunities.
“Our task goes beyond increasing the volume of food produced.
“We must build an agricultural economy that creates wealth, supports industries, generates decent employment, expands exports, improves rural livelihoods and contributes meaningfully to national economic growth,” he said.
Ogunbiyi identified inadequate storage and processing facilities, limited access to finance, poor logistics and weak links between farmers and processors as major challenges affecting the competitiveness of agricultural products.
He called for increased investment in agro-processing facilities, rural roads, irrigation, electricity, cold-chain infrastructure and modern technologies to reduce post-harvest losses and promote local value addition.
“Agro-industrialisation is central to the transformation we seek to achieve. It provides the bridge between agriculture and industry.
“It also enables agricultural production to serve as a reliable source of raw materials for manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy.
“The value of this council will ultimately be determined by the quality of its resolutions and the extent to which they are implemented,” Ogunbiyi said.
He urged state governments to identify priority commodities, set clear production and processing targets, attract private-sector investment, and strengthen partnerships with research institutions and development partners.
In his remarks, Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Patrick Uburu, said the state government was committed to agro-industrialisation to increase farmers’ incomes, create jobs and generate wealth.
Describing the technical sessions as a platform for translating policies into practical solutions, Uburu urged delegates to prioritise farmers and agribusiness operators in their deliberations.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among state governments, federal agencies and development partners to address food security challenges. He added that recommendations from the meeting should be measurable and actionable.
The commissioner called for practical policies and investments to improve farmers’ productivity and expand market access for agricultural produce.
Dr Abiodun Ihebuzor, Technical Lead for Policy Advisory at GIZ ECOWAS and Nigeria, also called for stronger partnerships and increased investment in agricultural value chains to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security.
Ihebuzor said previous engagements at the 46th Council in Calabar and the 47th Council in Kaduna had provided opportunities to advance agricultural development.
He expressed optimism that the current meeting would strengthen collaboration among government institutions, development partners and private-sector operators.
According to him, healthy soils, efficient markets and improved storage systems are essential to sustainable food security.
Meanwhile, Mrs Geraldine Onu, Deputy Director of Administration and Supply at the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, said the state government had intensified efforts to shift agriculture from subsistence to commercial and mechanised farming as part of its economic development agenda.
She said investments in irrigation, storage, processing and agricultural infrastructure were intended to increase production, attract private investment, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
“In Enugu State, under the visionary leadership of Gov. Peter Mbah, agriculture occupies a strategic position in the state’s economic transformation agenda.
“The initiatives include the 300,000-hectare agricultural land bank, the development of Smart Farm Estates across the 17 local government areas, the 260 Farm Estate Programme and the establishment of a tractor assembly plant,” Onu added.
