An agricultural development expert and former Abia State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Philips Nto has called for increased private sector participation in Nigeria’s food production value chain as a sustainable strategy to achieve national food security and economic resilience.
Dr. Nto, who is currently the Director, Agribusiness Incubation Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, spoke at the sidelines of World Food Day celebration in Umuahia, Abia State.
He said that the private sector holds the key to unlocking Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential through strategic investments, technology driven farming, and innovative financing models.
According him “Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is rich in opportunity, but the dominance of subsistence farming and low private sector engagement continue to undermine productivity.
“To ensure food security and reduce dependency on imports, we must create an enabling environment where agripreneurs, investors, and corporate entities can see agriculture as a profitable venture rather than a social service”, he said.
He that the theme of this year’s World Food Day celebration, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and Better Future,” sharply draws attention to the need for private sector participation in the agricultural value chain.
He said with over 70% of Nigeria’s population engaged in agriculture, mobilizing private capital into critical areas such as mechanization, irrigation infrastructure, storage, logistics, and agro-processing would enhance efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and create millions of jobs along the agricultural value chain.
He further urged governments at all levels to design investor friendly policies, strengthen public-private partnerships (PPP), and expand access to credit for farmers and agri-startups. “We need to shift from policy talk to practical implementation. Food security cannot be achieved through public spending alone; it requires strong collaboration between the private sector, government, and development partners,” he added.
