As Nigeria's food import bill soared to ₦920.54 billion in Q1 2024, stakeholders in the agriculture sector are calling for a national shift toward agro-processing to drive food security, reduce unemployment, and energize rural economies.
Agro-processing—often seen as a neglected segment of the agriculture value chain—is being redefined by experts as the missing link between Nigeria's abundant farm produce and its persistent food insecurity challenges.
Chi Tola Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of Capacious Farms and Foods, emphasized the strategic importance of investing in food processing during a recent forum. "Agro-processing is the engine that drives sustainable food systems," she said. "Without it, our agricultural gains will continue to evaporate between the farm and the fork."
Roberts noted that despite Nigeria's vast arable land and strong agricultural potential, poor investment in post-harvest handling and food processing has led to massive waste and underutilization of resources. "We lose up to 60% of fresh produce due to poor storage and lack of processing," she added.
She outlined the untapped economic opportunities in the sector, including job creation, higher farmer incomes, improved nutrition, and reduced dependence on food imports. "One cassava plant can transform a whole community, providing employment across processing, packaging, logistics, and retail."
To reposition agro-processing, Roberts called for better infrastructure, access to affordable credit, targeted government policies, and widespread training programs for women, youth, and MSMEs. "Agro-processing isn't just a sector; it's a national strategy to transition from potential to prosperity," she said.
Echoing this view, Farouk Mudi, National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), warned against the politicization of agricultural support funds. "Funds meant for farmers must get to farmers," he said, lamenting how political interference often derails interventions intended to support smallholder producers and processors.
Mudi pointed to India's dual-level food processing model—supporting both cottage industries and large-scale exporters—as a blueprint Nigeria should follow. "If we empower small food processors, we solve two problems at once: unemployment and high food prices."
Meanwhile, Dr. Ekenechukwu Aloefuna of the Agricultural Commodity Consumer Awareness Association expressed skepticism about the government's seriousness on food security, citing underwhelming budgetary allocations. However, he praised the growing involvement of private sector players, particularly youths, in agro-processing innovations. "From kunu to tomato paste, we're seeing a new wave of Nigerian-made food products driven by small entrepreneurs," he said.
Across the board, experts agree: to move from food import dependency to food self-sufficiency, Nigeria must place agro-processing at the core of its national development agenda.
