The Nigerian Military has disclosed plans to establish large farms across the country in an effort to occupy the nation’s ungoverned spaces that serve as safe havens for terrorists to strike and hide.
Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa said the prolonged unrest caused by insurgency, banditry, and farmers/herders clashes across regions of Nigeria has hindered farming. To counter this, he said the Defence Headquarters has made operational arrangements to prioritise the protection of farmers’ successful harvests across the country.
General Musa said the military would not limit its actions to martial activities in the fight against terrorists but explore non-kinetic means of achieving adequate national security. “Military mega farms will be established with the objective of addressing the unemployment rate faced by the country and occupy some ungoverned spaces, thereby ensuring food availability and improving security.
The Defence Headquarters is already committed to this — and will take a lead position to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring food security,” Musa remarked at the Farm, Food and Allied Technologies (FARMATECH) Expo 2024 in Abuja on Tuesday.
Afreximbank has said Nigeria needs “to redesign our educational systems, to focus on teaching and educating our children and young adults to learn new techniques that will not only mechanise agriculture but, also make use of what we have abundantly, the natural resources, to drive economic a growth in our continent with a focus on increasing agricultural contribution to the economy and job creation.
Acting group managing director, client relations, Afreximbank Group Abuja, Mr Eric Monchu Intong in a keynote address said agricultural financing is essential for enabling farmers and agribusinesses to secure the capital necessary for investments in technology, infrastructure, and sustainable practices.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), global agricultural investments must significantly increase to address the rising food demand. The trade finance gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $150 billion annually.
Despite its importance, agricultural financing faces several challenges in Nigeria and Africa in general including risk perception, lack of collateral by smallholder farmers, limited financial literacy of many farmers who lack adequate financial skills and inadequate infrastructure, especially poor rural infrastructure that limits market access.
As part of its interventions in Nigeria, the bank said it is financing the development of a cashew processing facility with $20.8 m.
The expo is to enhance collaboration between stakeholders in the agriculture sector, gain exposure to innovative solutions and investment opportunities, insights into policy development, and skills necessary for adopting new technologies within the agriculture sector.
“Addressing the challenges of agriculture financing while enhancing value chains is vital for achieving sustainable growth within the agricultural sector,” Intong stated, adding, “Together we can build resilient food systems that feed our populations and contribute significantly to economic development across the continent.”
The president of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Emeka Obegulu, said the ACCI is dedicated to championing the interests of farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses across Nigeria.
“At the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, our interest lies in securing a robust economy, which includes promoting and supporting sectors like agriculture that contribute substantially to our nation’s GDP,” Dr Obegulu said, adding that the ACCI is committed to advancing ventures that drive economic growth and support sustainable development.