Nigeria's agricultural sector has achieved a significant milestone, recording a 4.39% growth in the second quarter of 2026. This is the highest performance in five years, dating back to 2021. According to Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, this growth is a testament to the resilience and hard work of Nigerian farmers. The minister made this announcement during the inauguration of the Coalition of Farmers Associations for Food Security in Nigeria (COA-FARMERS) in Abuja.
The growth in the agricultural sector is attributed to the efforts of Nigerian farmers who responded to President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency on food security shortly after assuming office. Kyari emphasized that the country's food future cannot be secured if farmers are only heard after decisions have been made. He stressed the importance of involving farmers in decision-making processes to ensure a food-secure future for Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security highlighted the renaming of the Ministry as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which aims to focus on food security and availability. He also emphasized the role of COA-FARMERS in organizing farmers around solutions, strengthening the flow of credible information from the field, and helping the Ministry identify areas where the President's programs are working and where adjustments are required.
COA-FARMERS, a unified apex platform of 99 farmer associations and commodity organizations, aims to enhance farming business, wealth creation, livelihoods improvement, and community transformation. The coalition's logo, which features crops, livestock, fisheries, and joined hands, represents cooperation and the breadth of Nigerian agriculture. The Minister urged the coalition to be a partner that can provide the Ministry with accurate information on the effectiveness of its programs.
Senator Kyari also highlighted Nigeria's election as the chair of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency for smallholder farmers. He emphasized that Nigeria must speak with the authority of its own farmers, and that COA-FARMERS will help give that voice its substance. The Minister also underscored the crucial role of women farmers in food security, stressing that they must be involved in decision-making processes and have access to tools and opportunities.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, acknowledged the support of COA-FARMERS for the re-election bid of President Tinubu. He urged the coalition to showcase the achievements of the Tinubu administration in the agricultural sector and other sectors of the economy. The National President of COA-FARMERS, Chief Emmanuel Anoh, commended the Minister of Agriculture for his interventions, including the stabilization of food prices and the distribution of fertilizer.
The inauguration of COA-FARMERS marks a significant step towards enhancing food security and agricultural development in Nigeria. The coalition aims to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure that farmers have access to inputs, markets, and secure livelihoods. With the agricultural sector's 4.39% growth, Nigeria is poised to make progress in food security and agricultural development.
Key points
- Nigeria's agricultural sector records 4.39% growth in Q2 2026, the highest in five years.
- COA-FARMERS aims to enhance farming business, wealth creation, livelihoods improvement, and community transformation.
- Women farmers play a crucial role in food security and must be involved in decision-making processes.
