At 2026 Farmers’ Day, AFAN calls for urgent investment in mechanisation, women-friendly equipment and agricultural infrastructure to secure Nigeria’s food future.

By Chioma Vivian James /Abuja 

Farmers across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the government, private investors and development partners to urgently address the challenges of land scarcity, inadequate mechanisation and limited processing facilities, warning that sustainable food production requires more than policy promises.

The farmers made the call at the 2026 FCT Farmers’ Day and International Year of Women Farmers Celebration, organised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), FCT Chapter, in partnership with Visionary Women in Agricultural Development in Africa (VIWADA), with support from the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.

The two-day celebration, held from October 13 to 14 at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Art and Culture, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, brought together farmers, government officials, agricultural investors, development partners and other stakeholders to explore practical solutions to the challenges confronting agriculture in the territory.

At the heart of the gathering was a pressing message: farmers need access to land, modern equipment, finance and processing facilities to increase production, reduce post-harvest losses and improve their livelihoods.

LAND SHORTAGE THREATENS AGRICULTURAL GROWTH

AFAN National Deputy President, Chief Daniel Okafor, commended farmers for their resilience and contributions to national food production and agricultural exports despite rising production costs and shrinking access to farmland.

He particularly applauded FCT farmers for sustaining agricultural activities amid growing pressure on available land from housing, infrastructure and other development projects.

Okafor urged the government and relevant stakeholders to make farming more productive and profitable by ensuring access to adequate farmland, improved agricultural inputs, modern equipment and other essential resources.

He stressed the importance of supporting farmers with the tools and opportunities required to increase yields and strengthen Nigeria’s food supply.

AFAN: FARMERS NEED MORE THAN GOODWILL MESSAGES

In her welcome address, AFAN FCT Chairman and Founder and President of VIWADA, Hon. (Lady) Perpetual Nkechi Okafor, said the celebration was designed to recognise farmers’ contributions to food and nutrition security while connecting them with investors, modern technologies and practical agricultural solutions.

She disclosed that AFAN FCT has more than 5,000 members across the six Area Councils, explaining that the annual Farmers’ Day, which commenced in 2024, provides a platform for knowledge sharing, agricultural exhibitions and partnerships across the value chain.

However, she identified access to land for cluster farming, modern agricultural equipment, cottage industries and processing centres as critical needs requiring urgent attention.

According to her, establishing such facilities would help minimise post-harvest losses, create employment opportunities, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen food security across the territory.

The AFAN FCT chairman also appealed to the relevant authorities to release tractors reportedly lying unused at the premises of the National Agricultural Seeds Council for the benefit of farmers.

She further advocated gender-friendly agricultural machinery that women and men could operate efficiently, emphasising the need to make mechanisation accessible to women farmers, who play a significant role in food production.

While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Agricultural Development Fund for interventions, including fertiliser distribution, she called for better coordination of agricultural support with the different planting seasons across the country.

WOMEN FARMERS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

The celebration also spotlighted the contributions of women to agriculture, nutrition and household food security, in recognition of the International Year of Women Farmers.

In her goodwill message, the Acting Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajia Asmau Mukhtar, assured farmers of the Secretariat’s continued support and paid tribute to women farmers for their resilience in the face of numerous challenges.

She described the celebration as an opportunity to recognise women’s contributions to agriculture and encourage greater investment in their participation in the sector.

Her message reinforced the need for practical measures to address the barriers facing women farmers, including limited access to land, finance, modern equipment and agricultural opportunities.

The AFAN National Women Leader, Her Excellency Yamusa Ladi, similarly called on the government and other stakeholders to increase support for farmers, particularly women, to strengthen their contribution to national food production.

GOVERNMENT, STAKEHOLDERS URGED TO INVEST IN FARMERS

The Director of the Extension Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Amaka Uyanwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers to increase production and supply raw materials to industries.

She encouraged farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies and improved farming practices to increase yields, improve livelihoods and contribute to national food security.

Also speaking, the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, represented by Hon. Bala Amidu Iyah, called for increased investment in agriculture, improved access to farming inputs, modern storage facilities and better market opportunities.

Kingibe noted that agriculture remained essential to food security, employment generation and economic development, stressing that farmers deserved greater recognition, encouragement and opportunities to prosper.

Representatives of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), OCP Africa, Andron Homes and other organisations congratulated the farmers and expressed support for initiatives aimed at improving agricultural production and strengthening food security.

The AFAN chairmen of Nasarawa and Rivers States, Hon. Isaac Kigbu and Mr Akanda Godwin Nwagwungwu, respectively, also attended the event in solidarity with their FCT counterpart, reaffirming their commitment to unity and progress within the association.

FROM CELEBRATION TO ACTION

With the theme, “Celebrating Women Farmers’ Efforts and Impacts, Empowering FCT Smallholder Farmers for Sustainable Growth Towards the Achievement of Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria,” the celebration underscored the vital role of smallholder farmers, particularly women, in feeding households, generating employment and supporting economic growth.

Beyond the speeches and commendations, the event presented a clear challenge to government agencies, investors, financial institutions, agricultural companies and development partners: translate commitments into tangible interventions that directly benefit farmers.

Access to farmland, affordable mechanisation, agricultural finance, improved storage, processing facilities and reliable markets remain essential to building a productive and resilient agricultural sector.

For FCT farmers, the demand is straightforward. They need the land to cultivate, the equipment to work efficiently, the facilities to preserve and process their harvests, and the markets to earn fair returns on their labour.

As Nigeria continues to confront food affordability and production challenges, the message from the 2026 FCT Farmers’ Day is unmistakable: empowering farmers is not merely an agricultural priority; it is an investment in national food security, economic growth and a more secure future for all.