Stakeholders Urge Climate-Smart Farming Ahead Of 2026
By OBIOMA TORI
Experts Call for Climate-Smart, All-Year Farming to Secure Food Supply
AGRICULTURE experts have identified mechanisation, irrigation, climate-smart practices and post-harvest infrastructure as critical to Nigeria’s food security ambitions by 2026.
They warned that without structural reforms across the agricultural value chain, increased production would not translate into stable food supply or improved farmer incomes.
Rethinking Nigeria’s Farming Model
Anibe Achimugu, President of NACOTAN, said Nigeria must deliberately transition to all-year farming through expanded irrigation and dry-season cultivation.
According to him, improved mechanisation services—delivered through shared service centres rather than ownership—would enhance productivity and reduce costs.
He added that post-harvest systems such as storage, aggregation centres and market coordination were essential to limit losses and stabilise prices.
Focus on Value Addition and Finance
Oyewole Okewole of FutuX Agri-consult stressed the importance of shifting attention from production to value addition.
“Without processing, storage and efficient supply chains, productivity gains will be wasted,” he said, noting that access to credit and modern farming techniques would define sector growth.
Okewole said enterprises involved in exports and agro-processing should be prioritised to boost incomes and foreign exchange earnings.
Technology, Livestock and Climate Resilience
Prince Oyewumi Oyetunde highlighted agri-tech adoption, including digital extension services, precision farming and solar-powered irrigation, as vital to modernising agriculture.
He also emphasised climate-smart solutions such as drought-tolerant seeds and weather-indexed insurance to protect farmers from climate shocks.
Poultry Association President Sunday Ezeobiora said stabilising maize and soya production through dry-season farming would reduce volatility in chicken and egg prices.
He added that investments in cold-chain logistics would reduce losses and improve protein availability nationwide.
