The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda, saying farmers are experiencing improved conditions under the current administration.
AFAN National President, Farouk Rabiu Mudi, made the position known during a press conference in Kano, where he highlighted improvements in security and other areas affecting agricultural production. According to the farmers’ association, better security in some farming communities has allowed farmers who previously could not access their land to return to cultivation.
The development comes as Nigeria continues to face the challenge of increasing food production while dealing with high production costs, insecurity and difficulties affecting farmers across different parts of the country.
Improved Security Helping Farmers
One of the major issues highlighted by AFAN is security.
For years, insecurity has prevented farmers in some parts of Nigeria from accessing their farms. Armed attacks, banditry and kidnappings have forced some farming communities to abandon agricultural activities, affecting food production and farmers’ livelihoods.
AFAN said improvements in security have allowed some displaced farmers to gradually return to their farmlands.
The association believes that maintaining security in agricultural communities is essential if Nigeria wants to achieve food security.
Farmers need to be able to travel to their farms, plant crops, maintain their fields and harvest their produce without fear of being attacked or kidnapped.
The Federal Government has also identified agriculture and food security as major priorities under its Renewed Hope Agenda. Government documents say the administration has focused on mechanised farming, increased cultivation, farmer support and agricultural investment.
AFAN Calls for More Support
Although AFAN praised the government’s efforts, the association also stressed that more needs to be done to transform Nigerian agriculture.
Mudi called for stronger support in areas including agricultural financing, mechanisation and partnerships between farmers, government and other stakeholders.
These areas are important because many Nigerian farmers still operate on a small scale and depend heavily on manual labour.
Access to tractors and other modern farming equipment could help farmers cultivate larger areas of land and reduce the amount of time and physical labour required for production.
Mechanisation could also help attract more young Nigerians into agriculture by making farming more commercially attractive.
AFAN has therefore continued to emphasise the need for policies that do not only increase food production but also improve the income and living conditions of farmers.
Financing Remains Important
Access to finance is another major concern for farmers.
Many smallholder farmers struggle to obtain affordable loans to purchase seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, machinery and other inputs.
Without adequate financing, farmers may be unable to expand their operations even when farmland is available.
AFAN’s latest position places financing among the areas that require greater attention as Nigeria attempts to strengthen food production.
The government has introduced several agricultural support programmes, including input support and fertiliser distribution initiatives.
For example, the National Agricultural Development Fund previously commenced the distribution of 100,800 bags of fertiliser to 25,200 smallholder farmers across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Jigawa states under the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme.
Such interventions are intended to reduce the cost burden on farmers and increase agricultural productivity.
Food Security Remains a Major Challenge
Nigeria’s growing population means that the country needs to continuously increase domestic food production.
Food security depends on several factors, including access to farmland, affordable inputs, good roads, storage facilities, reliable markets and adequate financing.
Security is also critical.
When farmers cannot safely access their farms, agricultural production can fall, potentially leading to shortages and higher food prices.
AFAN’s comments therefore highlight the connection between security and food security.
The association believes that farmers who are able to return to previously inaccessible farmland can contribute to increased production.
However, farmers also need access to markets where they can sell their harvest at profitable prices.
Need for Mechanisation
Mechanisation is another important part of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation plans.
The Federal Government has been promoting greater use of tractors and modern agricultural equipment as part of efforts to move Nigerian agriculture away from heavy dependence on manual labour.
Government plans have included increasing local tractor production and improving access to agricultural machinery.
The objective is to make farming more productive and commercially viable.
For smallholder farmers, however, the cost of machinery can remain a major barrier. This is why affordable financing, cooperative farming and government-backed mechanisation programmes could play an important role.
AFAN’s call for greater support suggests that farmers want these programmes to reach more people at the grassroots.
Agriculture and Nigeria’s Economy
Agriculture remains an important part of Nigeria’s economy and provides livelihoods for millions of people.
The sector also has the potential to create jobs for young Nigerians and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.
AFAN has therefore called on farmers to support efforts aimed at transforming the sector and increasing domestic production. The association believes that stronger collaboration between farmers and government can help Nigeria unlock its agricultural potential.
The association’s position also comes at a time when agriculture is increasingly being viewed as a tool for economic diversification.
If Nigeria can increase production and develop more local processing industries, farmers could benefit from larger markets while the country could reduce its dependence on imported agricultural products.
What Farmers Need Next
While AFAN’s endorsement represents support for the government’s agricultural agenda, the association’s call for additional financing, mechanisation and partnerships shows that farmers still expect more action.
Maintaining security will remain important, particularly in areas where farmers have previously been forced away from their land.
The government will also need to ensure that agricultural support programmes are delivered efficiently and reach the intended beneficiaries.
Improving rural roads, storage facilities and irrigation could further reduce post-harvest losses and help farmers move their products to markets.
For farmers, the ultimate measure of agricultural policies will be whether they can produce more, earn better incomes and operate their farms safely.
A Push for Higher Food Production
AFAN’s latest statement reflects the growing importance of agriculture in Nigeria’s efforts to address food insecurity and strengthen the economy.
The association’s support for Tinubu’s agricultural policies indicates that farmers recognise improvements in some areas, particularly security and access to farmland.
However, the organisation is also calling for stronger intervention to ensure that these improvements translate into higher production and better livelihoods.
As Nigeria continues its agricultural transformation, the success of government policies will depend on how effectively they reach farmers at the grassroots.
For now, AFAN is urging continued cooperation between farmers and government, with the goal of making Nigerian agriculture more productive, modern and capable of feeding the country’s growing population.
