Farmers at the Table: Nigeria’s AGROW Policy Push to Boost Food Security and Rural Incomes

Nigeria’s Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to involving farmers directly in agricultural policy decisions as part of a renewed effort to strengthen food security and productivity. Through initiatives such as AGROW, officials say they aim to create a more market‑oriented, farmer‑inclusive approach to agricultural development.

In a recent Punch report, government representatives explained that the AGROW framework is designed to ensure farmers are not just policy recipients but active participants in shaping strategies. The initiative seeks to link producers more closely with markets, improve access to inputs and finance, and align programmes with on‑the‑ground realities in rural communities. By involving farmer organisations and cooperatives in consultations, policymakers hope to reduce mismatches between plans and practical needs.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has outlined complementary efforts to support this shift. These include the National Poverty Eradication Programme for Food Security (NPFS), which aims to enhance national and household food security, boost rural incomes and reduce poverty through sustainable resource use and increased agricultural productivity. NPFS focuses on improving access to support services for rural farmers, including extension, credit and inputs.

Another key programme is NG‑CARES, which targets vulnerable households affected by shocks, including the economic impacts of COVID‑19. NG‑CARES aims to strengthen livelihoods and food security through interventions such as support for smallholder farmers and improved supply chains for safe food. By leveraging existing structures like Fadama, the programme is intended to quickly reach communities with established networks.

FMAFS is also working with the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) to enhance access to finance for farmers. Limited credit has long been a barrier to investment in inputs, equipment and technology among smallholders. Collaborations that reduce lending risk and simplify processes could unlock more resources for productive activities.

Policy alignment is another focus area. The ministry has convened validation meetings to better align national and state budgets with agrifood strategies, aiming to ensure that funding supports agreed priorities. Officials say the goal is to move beyond fragmented, short‑term projects toward coherent, long‑term investments in key value chains, infrastructure and services.

Agricultural experts note that these efforts are taking place against a backdrop of structural challenges. Nigeria’s agriculture sector contributes about 23–24 per cent of GDP and employs roughly 60–70 per cent of the labour force, but productivity remains below global averages. FAO’s Food and Agriculture Policy Monitoring Review for Nigeria highlighted that while nominal spending on agriculture increased between 2015 and 2021, it still represented only around 2 per cent of federal expenditure—far below continental commitments.

The FAO review found that policy incentives have favoured some crops, like rice, through protective trade measures, while others such as maize and sorghum face disincentives due to weak market integration and restrictive policies.

Export commodities like cocoa and cashew struggle with quality control issues, high logistics costs and currency challenges. The report recommended optimising agricultural spending, improving trade and value chains, and streamlining export procedures to unlock growth.

Against this backdrop, farmer inclusion in policy is seen as critical. Representatives have argued that initiatives like AGROW can help ensure that subsidies, credit schemes and infrastructure investments are better targeted. Involving producers in discussions about input delivery, extension services and market access may also improve accountability and reduce leakages.

Challenges remain. Farmers often face bureaucratic hurdles in accessing programmes, and communication gaps between national policymakers and local communities can dilute impact. Ensuring that smallholders,rather than only large agribusinesses,benefit from policies will require strong representation mechanisms and transparent criteria.

As Nigeria seeks to stabilise food prices and strengthen rural livelihoods, the success of AGROW and related initiatives will hinge on consistent implementation and follow‑through.

For farmers in states from Kaduna to Ogun, meaningful inclusion in policy decisions could mark a shift from being passive recipients to recognised partners in shaping the country’s food system. Whether this promise is realised will become clearer as programmes move from strategy documents to farm fields.