AFAN Kickstarts 2026 with Farmers Dialogue on Food Security, Sector Growth

News in Brief

-AFAN's congress in Abuja unites stakeholders to boost food security, launch a mechanisation roadmap, and forge partnerships amid rising input costs and insecurity.

-Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi urges unity and government backing to hit food sufficiency by 2030, with awards honouring industry champions and a digital ID for better farmer services.

In a bid to kick off 2026 with a strong push for food security and sector growth, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) is set to hold its General Assembly of Farmers Congress in Abuja. According to the association's president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, the assembly, scheduled for January 15-17, will bring together farmers, policymakers, investors, and partners. Participants will aim to tackle challenges and chart a new path for Nigeria's agriculture.

​Activities for the congress also include the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

In a New Year message to AFAN members and stakeholders, Dr Mudi said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

Farmers' Resilience Amid Challenges

Mudi especially hailed Nigerian farmers' resilience amid insecurity, climate issues, and economic challenges that defined the past years. ​According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN plans to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability. Therefore, the president appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He also called on members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors.

He added that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

Transparency and Collaboration

The AFAN president also encourages farmers to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card. This initiative is expected to improve transparency, ensure proper identification and make access to support programmes and services easier.  

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, Mudi stated that national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.