FCT Farmers Demand Land, Tractors, Processing Centres to Boost Food Production

Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory have called on the government, private investors and development partners to provide more farmland, tractors, modern agricultural equipment and processing centres to increase food production and improve their livelihoods.

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

The two-day event, held from October 13 to 14 at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Art and Culture, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, brought together farmers, government officials, investors and other agricultural stakeholders.

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

He particularly praised farmers in the FCT for sustaining agricultural activities amid growing pressure on available land from housing projects and other developmental activities.

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

In her welcome address, the AFAN FCT Chairman and Founder and President of VIWADA, Hon. 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 had more than 5,000 members across the territory’s six Area Councils, adding that the annual celebration, which began in 2024, had become a platform for knowledge sharing, agricultural exhibitions and partnerships across the value chain.

Okafor identified access to land for cluster farming, modern equipment, cottage industries and agricultural processing centres as critical to improving the fortunes of farmers in the territory.

According to her, the facilities would help reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, increase farmers’ earnings and strengthen food security.

She also called for the release of tractors reportedly lying unused at the premises of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, urging the relevant authorities to make the equipment available to farmers.

The AFAN FCT chairman further advocated the provision of gender-friendly agricultural machinery that could be operated efficiently by both women and men.

While commending President Bola 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 urged the government to ensure that future support programmes aligned with the different planting seasons across the country.

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.

She paid tribute to women farmers for their resilience and contributions to food production despite the numerous challenges confronting them.

Mukhtar described the International Year of Women Farmers as an opportunity to recognise women’s contributions to agriculture and encourage greater investment in their participation in the sector.

Similarly, 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 urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies and improved farming practices to raise yields, improve livelihoods and contribute to national food security.

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

Kingibe stressed that agriculture remained essential to food security, job creation and economic development, noting that farmers deserved greater recognition, encouragement and opportunities to prosper.

The AFAN National Women Leader, Her Excellency Yamusa Ladi, also appealed for increased support for farmers, particularly women, to strengthen their contributions to national food production.

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

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

The event was held under 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 theme highlighted the contributions of smallholder farmers, particularly women, to household food supplies, employment generation and economic development.

The organisers called on government agencies, investors, agricultural companies, financial institutions and development partners to translate their commitments into practical interventions by improving farmers’ access to land, equipment, finance, markets and processing facilities.

They maintained that empowering farmers was essential to reducing food shortages, curbing post-harvest losses, improving livelihoods and strengthening Nigeria’s food security.