By Our Correspondent
National News – The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on local and international investors to partner with the country to unlock its vast agricultural potential and strengthen climate-smart farming initiatives aimed at boosting food security.
The call was made on Monday by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, through a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna.
The appeal targets investors, financial institutions and development partners willing to support Nigeria’s agricultural transformation as climate change increasingly threatens food production across the country.
Kyari explained that Nigeria possesses enormous agricultural capacity and remains Africa’s largest agricultural market.
According to him, the sector employs nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s labour force and contributes more than 24 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
He noted that the country’s diverse agro-ecological zones enable large-scale production of crops such as rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, sesame, sorghum and several horticultural products for both local consumption and export markets.
However, the minister warned that climate change is putting increasing pressure on food production systems.
He identified prolonged droughts, irregular rainfall patterns, flooding and desertification as major challenges threatening agricultural productivity and national food security.
Kyari stressed that transitioning to climate-resilient farming methods is essential to sustain food supply and support farmers across the country.
He also highlighted financing gaps as a major barrier limiting productivity among farmers.
While Nigeria currently operates several agricultural credit schemes, the minister revealed that total credit available to farmers stood at about ₦3.4 trillion as of April 2025, representing less than four per cent of the sector’s contribution to GDP.
To address these challenges, the Federal Government has introduced several programmes, including solar-powered irrigation pumps for smallholder farmers, climate-resilient seed systems and the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme, which has procured 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 farm implements.
Other initiatives include the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones project aimed at improving storage, value addition and market access.
Kyari urged investors, particularly from the United Kingdom, to explore opportunities in irrigation technology, mechanisation, seed development, agro-processing, cold storage and agricultural logistics, assuring them of government policies designed to create a supportive investment environment.
