Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AAN)I

Muhyideen Jimoh
Jun, Fri, 2025

Group urges Govt., stakeholders to prioritise agriculture investment

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AANI), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has called on the Government and stakeholders to prioritise investments in agriculture, rural infrastructure, research, and extension services.

Ephraim Audu, National President of AANI, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday as the country marked Democracy Day.

Audu stated that agriculture was essential for inclusive growth, youth employment, and national prosperity, values that democracy should uphold.

“As we mark this significant milestone in our nation’s history, we call on all stakeholders, including government at all levels, the organised private sector, civil society organisations, and development partners, to prioritise investments in agriculture, rural infrastructure, research, and extension services.

“Only through a united and sustained effort can we unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and ensure food security, economic diversification, and shared prosperity for all,” he said.

He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to a vision of Nigeria where every farmer would have the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive, explaining that when agriculture grew, Nigeria grew.

Audu, therefore, advised increased budgetary allocation to agriculture to meet and exceed the Maputo Declaration commitment of 10 per cent of the national budget, with a clear focus on smallholder farmers, women, and youth.

“Strengthen and digitise agricultural extension services to ensure farmers have real-time access to best practices, improved inputs, and climate-smart innovations across all geopolitical zones.

“Improve rural infrastructure by prioritising the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and efficiently connect farmers to markets.

“Promote access to affordable credit and inputs by expanding access to low-interest credit through farmer-friendly financial instruments, ensuring timely and transparent distribution of fertilizers, improved seeds, and agrochemicals.

“Invest in agro-tech and digital agriculture to modernise Nigeria’s agricultural systems and increase youth participation in agribusiness.

“Enact and enforce gender-inclusive land reform policies to secure land tenure and enable farmers, especially women and young people, to access, own, and invest in agricultural land without discrimination.

“Enhance climate resilience and environmental sustainability by developing and implementing a national climate-smart agriculture strategy that promotes sustainable land use, reforestation, and adaptation to climate change, especially in vulnerable regions.”

He also advocated fostering research, innovation, and agro-industrialization by strengthening research institutions and promoting partnerships with development organisations to drive value addition, local processing, and export diversification through agro-industrial clusters.

Audu said the policy recommendations, if implemented with political will and accountability, could reposition Nigeria’s agricultural sector to feed its growing population, create millions of jobs, and build a more resilient and inclusive economy.

“As Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, the initiative reaffirmed its commitment to empowering rural communities, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring food security for every Nigerian.

“Today, we celebrate not only our nation’s milestones but also the resilience, strength, and unwavering spirit of more than 20 million registered smallholder farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, spanning 774 Local Government Areas.

“They are the backbone of our economy and the true custodians of our land.

“At AANI, we have committed resources and are set to empower and support up to 1,000 smallholder farmers nationwide as a deliberate action towards reducing poverty and hunger in Nigeria.

“We stand ready to partner with relevant stakeholders to make this vision a reality.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AANI focuses on Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, No Poverty and Zero Hunger, through smallholder farmer aggregation, women and youth empowerment, access to markets, and rural community development.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Insecurity responsible for food inflation in Benue- Expert

Muhyideen Jimoh
May, Mon, 2025

Agriculture

Insecurity responsible for food inflation in Benue- Expert

216 total views today

By Okeoghene Akubuike

An Economist, Ephraim Audu, has attributed insecurity as the primary cause of food inflation in Benue, calling on the Federal Government to urgently tackle the menace across the country.

Audu, the National President, Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AANI), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

He was reacting to the latest Inflation figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for April.

The NBS had said the food inflation rate in April 2025 was 21.26 per cent on a year-on-year basis, with Benue recording the highest food inflation rate at 51.76 per cent on a year-on-year basis and 25.59 per cent on a month-on-month basis.

The report said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in April was 2.06 per cent, which decreased by 0.12 per cent compared to the 2.18 per cent recorded in March 2025.

The NBS said the decrease in food inflation was attributed to the reduction in average prices of items such as Maize (Corn) Flour, Wheat Grain, Okro Dried, Yam Flour, Soya Beans, Rice, Bambara beans, Brown Beans, etc

He, however, said he was not convinced that food inflation had dropped because the prices of food items were still on the increase.

Audu said it was sad to note that, even though Benue was the food basket of the nation, it recorded the highest level of food inflation.

He explained that less than three per cent of the population in Benue had access to civil service jobs, which meant over 80 per cent of the population were predominantly farmers.

“So now, their farms have been under attack. The insecurity will not allow these farmers a larger percentage of the populace, to have access to their farms, nor to produce.

“That has affected the dependency on their livelihoods, so why won’t there be high inflation of food items in Benue?”

The expert also gave another reason for food inflation to be the value chain, stating that there was a hyper increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel, and diesel due to the removal of subsidy.

Audu said that PMS and diesel were major determinants of the prices of goods and services.

“ Those guys are irrigation farmers, producing primarily products, and they use irrigation machines that use either petrol or diesel to pump their machines to work.

“So if Mr A buys petrol every day at the rate of N920 per litre, which he needs at least 10 litres a day to cultivate his farm, approximately N9,000. He uses N9,000 daily in a month. How much is that?

“So, now, if he is cultivating one or two hectares, how many tons is he expected to generate from those two hectares, certainly less than 16 tons.

“How much is the prevailing market price? So, that farmer has to factor in all the costs he has already incurred in the process of cultivating that product.

“So, that is why no professional analyst will tell you that there is a decline in the price of food.”

He also stated that the current headline inflation rate, which dropped to 23.71 per cent, as reported by the NBS, does not reflect the current realities on ground.

The economist said food, house rents, and transportation costs were still on the increase, saying that many Nigerians could barely afford to eat a proper meal daily.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to revitalise the refineries in the country and give licences for modular refineries across the comparative states.

According to him, if this is achieved, then the Dangote, government, and modular refineries will go into competition, and the price of PMS and diesel will drastically reduce.

Audu saidd that the Federal Government must prioritise both human and food security, so farmers could have access to their farms without fear.

He also recommended that the Federal Government invest, if possible, 60 per cent of the total budget for now on agriculture, which would help achieve food sufficiency and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) .

“This will lead to an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product. Consequently, foreign investors will open their portfolios, enhancing export opportunities, thereby, building and strengthening our exchange rates and foreign reserves.”

Audu added that the Federal Government should implement price regulations to prevent hoarding and price inflation.

He said, as a matter of urgency, the Federal Government must address the issues in the power sector, saying that without power, “all that we have mentioned would be inconsequential.”

Audu said the Federal Government should give single-digit intervention funds with a favourable moratorium for entrepreneurs, businesses, and farmers, while interfacing and supporting the value chain manufacturers and processors.

He said that the government and private sector should increase workers’ salaries to match the increasing costs of goods, services, and transportation, noting that the purchasing power of Nigerians is weak. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams