The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has announced plans to strengthen its working relationship with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAF) to improve performance and productivity in the agricultural sector in 2026.
The General Secretary of AFAN, Mr. Femi Oke, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview in Lagos, noting that the association’s newly elected leadership is prioritizing collaboration with the government to create an enabling environment for farmers nationwide.
According to Oke, AFAN recently held engagements with the Minister of Agriculture, during which key policies and interventions aimed at benefiting farmers were discussed.
“As newly elected executives, we are fostering a closer relationship with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The Minister received us fully about two to three weeks ago, where we discussed policies that will directly benefit farmers,” he said.
Oke stated that the ministry has expressed readiness to work with the association and that AFAN expects improved access to farm inputs this year.
“Last year, some of the inputs distributed did not get to the actual farmers, but we believe that this year the distribution modality will be better,” he added.
He also revealed that AFAN has formally requested the digitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to enable easier access to financial services for local farmers.
“The BOA is the closest bank to farmers, yet it has largely remained analogue. We want it digitalised so farmers can access its services from anywhere in the country,” Oke said.
The AFAN scribe commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that several AFAN members are currently benefiting from government-supported training programmes.
He further disclosed that farmers under the association have accessed funding through the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), a bill passed during the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
“NADF is a pooled fund that allows farmers to access financing for their respective sectors. It also includes export waivers for local agricultural inputs,” he explained.
Oke highlighted improvements in agricultural logistics through the Road Access and Agricultural Management Project (RAMP), implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the World Bank.
“The project is opening rural roads across states, linking farming communities directly to markets,” he said.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to establish agricultural clusters, improve storage infrastructure, and create off-take arrangements to reduce post-harvest losses.
Looking ahead, Oke said AFAN’s projection for 2026 is to ensure food availability for all Nigerians, stressing the need for sustained government support, particularly in financing and funding.
“We want the government to continue working closely with us, especially in the areas of finance and funding, to achieve national food security,” he said.
