The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda, but says stronger support for farmers is needed to unlock Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential.

AFAN National President Farouk Rabiu Mudi said improved security, access to finance, mechanisation, technology and stronger public-private partnerships will be critical to achieving food security and transforming agriculture into a more commercially driven sector.

Speaking in Abuja, Mudi said cooperation between AFAN and the Federal Government was helping restore farmers’ confidence and enabling some producers to return to farmland previously affected by insecurity.

Nigeria has more than 70 million hectares of farmland, but insecurity has prevented farmers from fully accessing and cultivating some agricultural areas. Mudi welcomed efforts by security agencies to improve protection around farming communities, saying greater stability was essential for agricultural production to recover.

Security And Finance Key To Agricultural Growth

Mudi highlighted AFAN’s partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defence as an important step towards restoring farming activities in affected communities.

He also pointed to an agricultural study tour to Brazil involving AFAN executives, where participants examined modern farming practices, mechanisation, commercial agriculture and farmer-support systems at the annual Cotrijal agricultural trade exhibition.

According to Mudi, lessons from Brazil could help Nigeria develop more productive farming systems while supporting the reintegration of displaced farmers into commercial agriculture.

AFAN is also planning a Nigerian-Brazilian International Agricultural Exhibition in November, in partnership with the Kano State Government and the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA).

The event is expected to bring together agricultural stakeholders from both countries to exchange expertise, explore investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in agriculture and livestock.

Nigeria Needs More Mechanised Commercial Farming

Mudi said Nigeria must accelerate the transition from subsistence farming to modern and commercially oriented agriculture.

He called for greater investment in outgrower schemes and blended finance, arguing that these models could help farmers access capital, technology and markets while increasing productivity.

“We have the land, the climate, the human resources and millions of hardworking Nigerians willing to embrace commercial agriculture,” Mudi said.

However, he stressed that land and labour alone would not be enough to transform the sector.

Nigeria needs the right combination of security, finance, technology, infrastructure and reliable markets to fully unlock its agricultural capacity, he said.

The AFAN president also urged the government to strengthen agricultural extension services and improve smallholder farmers’ access to modern technology, financing and market opportunities.

Government Programmes Could Drive Transformation

Mudi welcomed government initiatives aimed at improving agricultural production, including the Nigerian Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), the Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund and the Bank of Agriculture.

He said effective implementation and management of these programmes could significantly improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen Nigeria’s food production capacity.

With rising demand for food and a growing population, Mudi said Nigeria has an opportunity to position itself as a major agricultural hub in West Africa.

He urged farmers to take advantage of available government programmes, embrace modern farming techniques and work with relevant agencies to improve productivity.

For AFAN, unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential will require sustained investment and cooperation between government, farmers, financial institutions and private-sector investors.

Mudi said the ultimate goal should be an agricultural system capable of reducing food insecurity, creating jobs, generating wealth and delivering greater economic value to Nigerian farmers.