Nigeria agriculture value chain coordination urged by stakeholders at Lagos conference to improve productivity, financing and food security

Stakeholders across Nigeria’s agricultural sector have called for stronger Nigeria agriculture value chain coordination to enhance productivity and strengthen food security, during the BusinessDay Future of Agriculture Conference held in Lagos.

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The conference, themed “From Seed to Feed: Strengthening Agricultural Inputs for Food Security,” brought together policymakers, agribusiness leaders, financial institutions and development partners to examine structural challenges affecting input systems, financing and infrastructure across the sector.

Among the notable participants were Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems Abisola Olusanya, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Systems Oluwarotimi Fashola, Chief Executive Officer of Babban Gona Kola Masha, and Group Chief Executive Officer of AFEX Ayodeji Balogun, who delivered a keynote address focused on improving farmers’ access to quality inputs.

Speaking during a panel session, Kudzai Gumunyu, Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export at First City Monument Bank, emphasised the critical role of financial institutions in supporting Nigeria’s largely smallholder-driven agricultural ecosystem.

He noted that with smallholder farmers accounting for nearly 90 per cent of agricultural output, inclusive financing models remain essential to unlocking growth.

According to him, structured guarantees and strategic partnerships can help reduce lending risks while ensuring farmers gain access to the capital needed to expand production.

Gumunyu further stressed that a coordinated, value-chain-led approach would deliver more sustainable outcomes across production, aggregation and market access.

He described such alignment as a powerful pathway to improving yields and strengthening overall sector performance.

Discussions at the conference also highlighted persistent gaps in access to quality inputs, the need for expanded rural infrastructure and the importance of closer collaboration between public and private sector actors in driving long-term agricultural development.

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First City Monument Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting agribusiness and non-oil exports through targeted partnerships aimed at improving financing access and building more resilient agricultural systems capable of supporting national food security objectives.