By Otunba (Dr.) Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
Every farming season represents a covenant between the Nigerian farmer and the nation. The farmer commits his savings, labour, time and hope to the soil with the expectation that, after months of hard work, he will harvest enough to feed his family, repay his debts and contribute to our national food security. When that covenant is broken through circumstances beyond the farmer’s control, it is not only the farmer that suffers; the entire nation bears the consequences.
Reports of significant losses suffered by farmers during this planting season should concern every Nigerian. Behind every failed hectare of farmland is a family whose livelihood is threatened, a rural economy that is weakened and a future harvest that may never be planted. If we fail to respond decisively, we risk discouraging thousands of farmers from returning to their fields next season, thereby worsening food inflation and increasing our dependence on imported food.
Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest strategic assets. It employs millions of people directly and indirectly and provides the foundation for our food security. Yet many of our farmers continue to face enormous challenges, including unpredictable weather, flooding, drought, pests, diseases, rising input costs, insecurity and limited access to affordable financing. These risks have become too great for individual farmers to shoulder alone.
Government intervention should therefore be viewed not as charity but as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
The first priority should be the establishment of an emergency farmer recovery program for those who have suffered verified losses. Such support should combine grants for smallholder farmers with low-interest recovery loans for commercial producers, ensuring that they have the resources to cultivate again rather than abandon agriculture altogether.
Equally important is the provision of subsidised farm inputs. Quality seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals and mechanisation support should be made available well ahead of the next planting season. This approach offers more lasting value than cash alone because it directly restores productive capacity.
Agricultural insurance must also become a central pillar of our farming policy. Farmers should not lose everything because of floods, drought or other natural disasters. Government should work with insurance providers to make crop insurance affordable and accessible, particularly for smallholder farmers who currently have little or no protection.
For Ogun State, this moment presents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership. The state can launch a comprehensive Farmers Recovery and Resilience Programme that combines financial assistance, solar-powered irrigation schemes, improved extension services, rehabilitation of farm access roads, community storage facilities and stronger support for agro-processing. Such a programme would not only protect farmers but also strengthen Ogun State’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural economies.
Beyond immediate relief, Nigeria must accelerate investments in irrigation infrastructure to reduce dependence on rainfall. Climate change has made traditional farming calendars increasingly unreliable. We can no longer depend solely on seasonal rains to feed a nation of over 200 million people. Water management, climate-smart agriculture and modern farming technologies must become national priorities.
Private sector participation is equally essential. Financial institutions, commodity exchanges, agribusiness companies and development partners should expand access to agricultural financing, contract farming and guaranteed produce markets. Farmers deserve predictable markets and fair returns for their hard work.
Food security is national security. A nation that cannot adequately feed its people cannot achieve sustainable economic stability. Every hectare returned to cultivation strengthens our economy, creates employment, reduces inflationary pressures and enhances national resilience.
Nigeria has no shortage of hardworking farmers. What many of them lack is the assurance that when circumstances beyond their control destroy their investments, their nation will stand with them. That assurance can make the difference between another productive planting season and widespread abandonment of agriculture.
As we reflect on the losses recorded this season, let us remember that supporting our farmers is not merely an agricultural policy; it is an investment in every Nigerian family that depends on affordable food. We must act now to restore confidence, protect livelihoods and secure our nation’s future.
The farmer feeds the nation. It is now the nation’s turn to stand firmly behind the farmer.
Signed
Otunba (Dr) Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
National Chairman AATSG
Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu Support Group
Thursday 9th July 2026.
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