Monday

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has said that strategic market system would transform subsistence farming into profitable, competitive, and sustainable value chains as well as revolutionize the agricultural ecosystem.

The Minister made this disclosure during the courtesy visit by the Heifer International delegation led by the President and Chief Executive Officer, (CEO),Heifer International, Surita Sandosham in Abuja on Tuesday 10th March, 2026.

Kyari said that well-designed market system connects smallholder farmers to higher-value markets, directly increasing their incomes and fostering economic resilience.

He pointed out that Effective market strategies encourage private sector investment in agricultural services, reducing reliance on aid and creating sustainable, self-reinforcing markets.

The Minister stressed that Digital platforms and better market information enable farmers to negotiate better prices, reducing exploitation by intermediaries.

He added that Research identifies market access, value addition, and strengthened linkages as primary drivers of value chain competitiveness.
Kyari revealed that ‘’Extension Africa, Pullus Africa, Nimsy Agro, Vet Konnect, and Thrive Agric stand as strong examples of how catalytic support can help scale agribusiness innovation, improve farmer access to services, and strengthen agricultural value chains’’.

He acknowledged Heifer International’s continued support to Nigeria’s private sector. ‘’through your interventions and partnerships, several innovative agribusinesses have emerged and recorded notable success’’.

He further revealed that ‘’Heifer International remains a valued and longstanding partner in Nigeria’s agricultural development journey, Over the years, your organization has made meaningful contributions to supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening agricultural value chains, and improving rural livelihoods across the country. These efforts continue to align with our national priorities of building a resilient, productive, and inclusive agricultural sector’’.

According to him, ‘’ laudable initiative within our partnership is Heifer International’s collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture in support of Nigeria’s mechanization drive. Under this initiative, Heifer is working with the Bank to deploy trackers and a comprehensive digital platform designed to monitor tractor utilization as well as servicing and maintenance schedules, ensuring improved accountability and the longevity of these valuable assets.

‘’the platform is being offered to the Bank of Agriculture through a loan arrangement alongside technical support, reflecting a practical model that combines digital innovation with institutional strengthening’’.

In her remarks, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Heifer International, Surita Sandosham stated that ‘’ we are here to align our Program with your national priorities. Our goal is as bold as it is necessary: to support two million Nigerian households in achieving a sustainable living income by 2030. We recognize that this vision can only be achieved by the enabling environment you have created, which allows us to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers’’.

Sandosham pointed out that ‘’ a critical pillar of this transition is our strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and IFAD in the monumental task of harmonizing the National Digital Farmers’ Registry. We are moving away from the fragmented, inconsistent records of the past and toward a unified, technology-driven database anchored on the National Identification Number’’.

She added that ‘’ by integrating geo-referencing and sophisticated data mapping, we are ensuring that every intervention, from subsidized inputs to extension services, reaches the real farmers on their real farmlands with absolute transparency’’.

She revealed that ‘’ the success in Edo State, where our tripartite partnership with the state government and Amo Farm is integrating women and youth into the poultry sector through the In-Power Her project. This model of ‘Market Systems Development’ is exactly what we hope to scale across other value chains, proving that when the public and private sectors align, we can create dignified, profitable jobs in rural communities.

By focusing on non-farm agricultural income activities, we are ensuring that the poultry value chain benefits every project participant’’, Sandosham added.

 

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) has honoured outstanding staff for their resilience, innovation, and integrity so as to spur dedication and commitment in the present administration’s efforts towards achieving sustainable agriculture in the country.

Speaking during the Ministerial Award and Recognition Ceremony held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday 9th March, 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari stated that the award ceremony was organised to honour excellence, commitment and innovation, recognising agricultural sector as Nigeria’s economic backbone.

Kyari revealed that the theme: “Nurturing Dedication: Growing Sustainable Agriculture indicates that “sustainable agriculture does not grow by chance. It grows through dedication – dedication of our farmers who rise before dawn, our researchers who seek better solutions, our policymakers who provide enabling frameworks, and our partners who invest in the future of food security”.

He added that “As we face global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and economic uncertainty, the need for sustainable agricultural practices has never been more urgent than now.

The Minister pointed out that “Sustainable agriculture ensures that we meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Kyari noted that “Today’s ceremony is not only about presenting awards; it is about recognizing resilience, innovation, integrity, and outstanding performance. The individuals , we are honouring today have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing agricultural development and sustainability.”

The Minister emphasized that “It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of pride that I stand with you today on this occasion of this remarkable and Recognition Ceremony.

“Your dedication inspires hope. You have shown that with passion, hardwork, and vision, we can transform challenges into opportunities and cultivate prosperity for our nation”

He called on other staff and departments in the Ministry to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence, saying, “Let us continue to nurture dedication in our workforce and grow a sustainable agricultural sector that will feed our nation and strengthen our economy for generations to come.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi stated that “the current administration focus on transforming the agricultural sector through sustainable practices, technology, and staff development.

He added that the Ministry’s official mandate includes promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving soil health, reforming the cooperative sub sector, boosting food security among others.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Director, Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Mr Ayodele Olawumi pledged that the staff would continue to work towards achieving Renewed Hope Agenda in the Agricultural sector as well as revolutionize the ecosystem.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards of various categories to the staff for their dedication and commitment 

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) has honoured outstanding staff for their resilience, innovation, and integrity so as to spur dedication and commitment in the present administration’s efforts towards achieving sustainable agriculture in the country.

Speaking during the Ministerial Award and Recognition Ceremony held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday 9th March, 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari stated that the award ceremony was organized to honour excellence, commitment and innovation, recognising agricultural sector as Nigeria’s economic backbone.

 

Kyari revealed that the theme: “Nurturing Dedication: Growing Sustainable Agriculture indicates that “sustainable agriculture does not grow by chance. It grows through dedication – dedication of our farmers who rise before dawn, our researchers who seek better solutions, our policymakers who provide enabling frameworks, and our partners who invest in the future of food security”.

He added that “As we face global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and economic uncertainty, the need for sustainable agricultural practices has never been more urgent than now.

The Minister pointed out that “Sustainable agriculture ensures that we meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Kyari noted that “Today’s ceremony is not only about presenting awards; it is about recognizing resilience, innovation, integrity, and outstanding performance. The individuals , we are honouring today have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing agricultural development and sustainability.”

The Minister emphasized that “It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of pride that I stand with you today on this occasion of this remarkable and Recognition Ceremony.

“Your dedication inspires hope. You have shown that with passion, hardwork, and vision, we can transform challenges into opportunities and cultivate prosperity for our nation”

He called on other staff and departments in the Ministry to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence, saying, “Let us continue to nurture dedication in our workforce and grow a sustainable agricultural sector that will feed our nation and strengthen our economy for generations to come.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi stated that “the current administration focus on transforming the agricultural sector through sustainable practices, technology, and staff development.

He added that the Ministry’s official mandate includes promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving soil health, reforming the cooperative sub sector, boosting food security among others.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Director, Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Mr Ayodele Olawumi pledged that the staff would continue to work towards achieving Renewed Hope Agenda in the Agricultural sector as well as revolutionize the ecosystem.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards of various categories to the staff for their dedication and commitment.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari has revealed that the prices of essential food commodities have dropped by 50% nationwide, in fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to achieve food security.

The Minister disclosed this during the Quarterly Citizens/Stakeholders Engagement Retreat on Agricultural Transformation, held at Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja on Friday 6th March, 2026.

He said that since the present administration assumed office, food security has being a top priority, acknowledging the critical role the Ministry played in maintaining national stability and sovereignty.

Kyari pointed out that, “to achieve this, we focused on boosting local production and reducing our reliance on imports, with the ultimate goal of making affordable, nutritious food accessible to all Nigerians. Our efforts are starting to pay off, with a notable impact on food prices”.

“This is in contrast to previous years when food prices skyrocketed, way beyond what most Nigerians could afford. These efforts reflect our commitment to improving food security and the overall well-being of citizens. We are working to sustain this trend by addressing high input costs to ensure food remains accessible and affordable”. He emphasized.

The Minister further stated that, “our strategic focus on developing key value chains is positioning Nigeria as a major player in global agricultural market. We have prioritized and developed the rice, maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, yam, cocoa, kenaf, cowpea, cassava, soybeans, cotton, onion, FMAFS tomato, and oil palm value chains, thereby creating opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders”.

“The provision of high-quality seeds, agrochemicals, safety kits, pest and disease management packs, coupled with capacity building initiatives undertaken in years 2024 and 2025 has significantly bolstered our agricultural value chains. These interventions have empowered farmers to boost productivity, reduce losses, and improve product quality, ultimately enhancing their livelihoods and contributing to a more robust agricultural sector. By enhancing their productivity, we have helped these farmers to transition from subsistence farming to thriving agribusinesses, contributing to national food security, employment generation, and economic growth”, the Minister added.

Speaking further, Kyari stated that in the last two years, the Federal Government has boosted agricultural productivity and food security through various initiatives. Key achievements include the distribution of over 1.9 million bags of fertilizers to nearly 1 million farmers, promoting sustainable soil management with 12,000 liters of organic fertilizers, and strengthening regulatory frameworks. We have made notable collaborations and partnerships with Russia, Turkiye, India, and Canada to enhance fertilizer production and technology transfer.

He added that, 109 fertilizer inspectors were trained and equipped, and over 329 industry stakeholders were trained on regulatory compliance. Efforts have been made to curb fake fertilizers from our markets through persecution of offenders. We have constructed a National Reference Laboratory and upgraded the National Fertilizer Management Platform to enhance fertilizer quality control, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote transparency in the fertilizer supply chain. Over 3,500 farmers were trained on organic fertilizers and soil management, promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

 

Kyari revealed that the 2025 Agricultural Performance survey carried out by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) in collaboration with Ministry, other relevant agencies, and NGOs highlighted steady growth in Nigeria’s agriculture, with rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava all recording higher outputs compared to 2024. These production gains were driven by modest expansions in cultivated areas, improved farming practices, and resilience across major producing states, reinforcing food security and sustaining agro-industrial value chains.

He noted that the findings from the survey remain an essential tool for assessing the sector performance, guiding policy decisions, and advancing Nigeria’s food security agenda, adding that efforts have been made to create a conducive environment for agribusinesses to flourish nationwide amongst other things.

The Minister, therefore, called on stakeholders to prioritize agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, “our efforts are yielding results. While challenges persist, we are working tirelessly to overcome them. However, achieving these goals requires a collective effort, sustained energy, partnership, and alignment of our initiatives and resources. We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders, leveraging resources and expertise to drive growth and transformation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Together, let us build on our achievements and tackle the challenges ahead”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. FNIPR said that the gathering reflects the governing philosophy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is rooted in transparency, participation and accountability, noting that governance must not operate in isolation from the people.

In his words, “it must be open, responsive and anchored on dialogue. Today’s engagement is therefore not just an event, it is a demonstration of this administration’s commitment to keeping Nigerians informed and involved”.

He noted that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation remains committed towards ensuring that Nigerians understand the direction and purpose of these reforms. “Our role is to bridge the gap between policy decisions and public awareness. Communication is not propaganda, it is accountability, it ensures that citizens are informed about government initiatives are given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback”, the Minister stressed.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi stated that the gathering underscores a fundamental principle of governance that Agriculture and Food Security is not the responsibility of government alone, but a shared national endeavor that recognizes that farmers, processors, civil society, development partners, private actors, the media and the citizens are critical partners in shaping a resilient, productive and inclusive agrifood system.

He added that the primary goal of the engagement was to foster strong and enduring partnership aimed to strengthen open and transparent communication channels where recommendations are carefully considered, concerns are heard and questions addressed to ensure that policies and programmes are informed by practical insights, field experiences and technical expertise.