Experts urge long-term investment to build resilient communities, food security

By Anita Uzoagba

Experts in the agriculture sector have called for sustained, long-term development programmes to strengthen community resilience and address food insecurity among vulnerable households in rural communities.

They made the call during a panel discussion on “Aligned for Impact: The Architecture of Collective Action” at the Sahel Changemakers Conference 2026 in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit has the theme, “Aligning For Impact: Building Collaborative Architecture for Food and Health System Transformation”.

Carla Denizard, Regional Leader, World Vision West Africa, said that building resilient communities required long-term investments rather than short-term projects.

According to her, World Vision has been working in West Africa for more than 50 years, implementing Area Development Programmes (ADPs) that span between 15 and 20 years.

“We have to move away from the generation of projects and look at things that will reduce the vulnerability of communities and households,” she said.

Denizard noted that although many farming communities currently enjoyed abundant food supplies due to the harvest season, the situation could change significantly within a few months.

She stressed that rural households needed to develop the capacity to maintain access to food and income throughout the year, irrespective of whether they were in the planting or harvesting season.

“We need to help rural households become more resilient so that 365 days out of the year, whether they are producing or not, they have food stored or the resources and income to provide for themselves,” she said.

She called for increased efforts to attract young people to agriculture, describing it as a viable source of wealth creation and sustainable employment.

She added that many young people in rural communities currently engage in activities such as transporting passengers on motorcycles without recognising the economic opportunities available in agriculture.

“We are trying to get youths to see agriculture as a sustainable livelihood that can create wealth for them.

“Our communities need to thrive, not just during the harvest season, but throughout the whole year,” she said.

Mr Patrick Tognisso, Founder, Gevity, said Nigeria should look beyond food availability and access to services and prioritise the nutritional wellbeing of its population.

According to him, a well-nourished population possesses the strength, stamina and mental focus required to drive productivity and national development.

He called for the development of sustainable agribusinesses and a thriving food sector capable of operating beyond donor-funded programmes and short-term interventions.

Tognisso said farmers should be empowered to move beyond subsistence production and poverty reduction towards building profitable agricultural enterprises and accumulating wealth.

“First, I would like to see agribusinesses and farmers who are actually making a living and becoming wealthy, not just trying to get out of poverty.

“This is the key to sustainability,” he said.

Mr Clinton White, Chief Executive Officer, Counselor Global Solutions, called for stronger collaboration across agriculture, food, climate, nutrition and energy sectors to promote sustainable development and improve livelihoods in African communities.

According to him, addressing challenges in these sectors independently would limit development efforts, stressing the need for an integrated approach that recognised their interconnectedness.

White noted that agricultural productivity, for instance, depended not only on farmers having access to land and other resources but also on reliable energy to power irrigation systems and improve yields.

He stressed the importance of bringing relevant stakeholders together at the community level to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.

He emphasised the need to involve young people in development discussions and decision-making processes, describing their participation as essential to building a sustainable future.

“We need the younger generation at the table with us now.

“Not seated somewhere at the back, not invisible, but your voices need to be heard and to be part of this because you are the future,” he said.

The CEO called for greater attention to technology, product development and workforce development in preparing young people for emerging employment opportunities.

Mr Shachi Gurumayum, Director, AgriMayum GmbH, said that farmers’ health should be prioritised, saying a healthy farming population was essential to achieving food security.

According to him, direct interaction with farmers would help stakeholders develop practical solutions that improve agricultural productivity and farmers’ living conditions.

He stressed the need for Africa to prepare its growing youth population with relevant skills to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the agricultural sector.

Gurumayum called for increased investment in local processing and value addition, noting that Africa could generate greater economic benefits by processing its agricultural produce before export.

He called for the integration of physical and digital infrastructure, including the use of smartphones and digital technology to improve agricultural operations.(NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah