By Stella Odueme
Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the government, private investors and development partners to provide more farmland, tractors, modern agricultural equipment and processing centres to increase food production and improve their economic well-being.
The farmers made the appeal 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 collaboration 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, development partners and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the event, AFAN National Deputy President, Chief Daniel Okafor, commended Nigerian farmers for their contributions to national food production and agricultural exports despite increasing production costs and limited access to farmland.
He particularly applauded farmers in the FCT for sustaining agricultural activities despite growing pressure on available land from residential development and other competing uses.
Okafor urged the government and relevant stakeholders to address the challenges confronting farmers by providing adequate farmland, improved agricultural inputs, modern machinery and other resources needed to enhance productivity.
In her welcome address, AFAN FCT Chairman and Founder and President of VIWADA, Hon. (Lady) Perpetual Nkechi Okafor, said the celebration was aimed at recognising farmers' contributions to food and nutrition security while creating opportunities for partnerships, knowledge sharing and access to modern agricultural solutions.
She disclosed that AFAN FCT had more than 5,000 members spread across the territory's six Area Councils, adding that the annual Farmers' Day, which commenced in 2024, had become a platform for showcasing agricultural produce, exchanging ideas and promoting collaboration across the agricultural value chain.
Okafor identified access to land for cluster farming, modern agricultural equipment, cottage industries and processing centres as critical requirements for farmers in the FCT.
According to her, providing these facilities would reduce post-harvest losses, generate employment, increase farmers' earnings and strengthen food security.
She also appealed to the authorities to release tractors reportedly lying idle at the premises of the National Agricultural Seeds Council for use by farmers.
The AFAN FCT chairman further emphasised the need for gender-friendly agricultural equipment that could be operated efficiently by both women and men.
While acknowledging the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the National Agricultural Development Fund through interventions such as fertiliser distribution, she called for better coordination of agricultural support programmes with planting seasons across the country.
In her goodwill message, the Acting Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajia Asmau Mukhtar, assured farmers of the Secretariat's continued support.
She paid special tribute to women farmers for their resilience and contributions to food production despite the numerous challenges confronting them.
Mukhtar described the International Year of Women Farmers as an opportunity to recognise the contributions of women 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, reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting farmers to increase production and supply raw materials to industries.
She urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies and improved farming practices to boost yields, improve livelihoods and contribute to national food security.
The Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, represented by Hon. Bala Amidu Iyah, also advocated increased investment in agriculture, better access to farming inputs, modern storage facilities and improved market opportunities for farmers.
Kingibe noted that agriculture remained essential to food security, employment generation and economic development, stressing that farmers deserved greater recognition and support to improve their productivity and livelihoods.
The AFAN National Women Leader, Her Excellency Yamusa Ladi, also called for increased government and stakeholder support for farmers, particularly women, to strengthen their contributions to national food production.
Representatives of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), OCP Africa, Andron Homes and other organisations congratulated the farmers and expressed support for initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food security.
The AFAN chairmen of Nasarawa and Rivers States, Hon. Isaac Kigbu and Mr Akanda Godwin Nwagwungwu, respectively, attended the celebration in solidarity with their FCT counterpart and reiterated their commitment to unity and progress within the association.
The event 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 theme underscored the importance of smallholder farmers, particularly women, in feeding households, generating employment and supporting economic growth.
The organisers called on government agencies, investors, agricultural companies, financial institutions and development partners to translate their commitments into tangible interventions by improving farmers' access to land, equipment, finance, markets and processing infrastructure.
They stressed that sustained investment in farmers was crucial to reducing food shortages, minimising post-harvest losses, improving livelihoods and securing Nigeria's food future.