General News
FCT Farmers Raise Alarm Over Land Shortage, Demand Tractors, Processing Plants
By Iyojo Ameh
Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory have called for urgent government intervention to address land shortages and provide tractors, modern farming equipment and agricultural processing facilities to increase food production.
The farmers also urged private investors and development partners to support smallholder farmers with finance, improved agricultural inputs and better market access to strengthen food security and improve their earnings.
The demands were made during the 2026 FCT Farmers’ Day and International Year of Women Farmers Celebration organised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), FCT Chapter, in partnership with Visionary Women in Agricultural Development in Africa (VIWADA), with support from the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
The two-day celebration, held from October 13 to 14 at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Art and Culture, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, attracted farmers, government representatives, investors and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
AFAN National Deputy President, Chief Daniel Okafor, said farmers continued to contribute to national food supplies and agricultural exports despite increasing production costs and declining access to farmland.
He expressed concern over the pressure on agricultural land in the FCT, where expanding housing projects and other development activities have reduced the space available for farming.
Okafor called on the government and relevant stakeholders to provide farmers with adequate land, improved inputs and modern equipment to increase productivity and make agricultural activities more profitable.
In her address, AFAN FCT Chairman and VIWADA Founder and President, Hon. Perpetual Nkechi Okafor, said the annual celebration was established to recognise farmers’ contributions to food and nutrition security while creating opportunities for partnerships, investment and the adoption of modern agricultural technologies.
She disclosed that AFAN FCT had more than 5,000 members across the territory’s six Area Councils.
According to her, the annual Farmers’ Day, which commenced in 2024, provides a platform for farmers to exchange knowledge, showcase their produce and establish partnerships across the agricultural value chain.
Okafor identified access to land for cluster farming, modern agricultural machinery, cottage industries and processing centres as major priorities for farmers in the territory.
She explained that establishing processing facilities would help farmers preserve their produce, minimise post-harvest losses, create employment opportunities and increase their incomes.
The AFAN FCT chairman also appealed to the authorities to release tractors reportedly lying unused at the premises of the National Agricultural Seeds Council for distribution to farmers who need them.
She called for the provision of gender-friendly machinery that could be operated effectively by both male and female farmers, stressing the importance of making agricultural mechanisation accessible to women.
While appreciating President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Agricultural Development Fund for supporting farmers through interventions, including fertiliser distribution, she urged the government to align future programmes with the different planting seasons across the country.
The Acting Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajia Asmau Mukhtar, reaffirmed the secretariat’s commitment to supporting farmers.
She particularly commended women farmers for their resilience and contributions to food production despite the challenges they face in accessing resources and expanding their agricultural activities.
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, reiterated the government’s commitment to helping farmers increase production and supply raw materials to industries.
She encouraged farmers to adopt modern technologies and improved farming practices to raise agricultural yields, improve livelihoods and strengthen national food security.
The senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, represented by Hon. Bala Amidu Iyah, also called for increased investment in agriculture, improved access to farming inputs, modern storage facilities and better market opportunities.
Kingibe described agriculture as a critical driver of food security, employment and economic development, adding that farmers deserved greater recognition and support to improve their productivity and living standards.
The AFAN National Women Leader, Her Excellency Yamusa Ladi, also advocated increased assistance for farmers, particularly women, to strengthen their contribution to food production.
Representatives of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, OCP Africa, Andron Homes and other organisations congratulated the farmers and expressed support for efforts to improve agricultural production and food security.
The AFAN chairmen of Nasarawa and Rivers states, Hon. Isaac Kigbu and Mr Akanda Godwin Nwagwungwu, respectively, attended the event in solidarity with their FCT counterpart and reaffirmed their commitment to the association’s unity and progress.
The celebration 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 organisers urged government agencies, investors, financial institutions, agricultural companies and development partners to translate their commitments into practical support through improved access to farmland, machinery, finance, markets and processing facilities.
They stressed that addressing these challenges would help reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to feed its growing population.
