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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has declared that a strategic market system would transform subsistence farming into profitable, competitive and sustainable value chains, as well as revolutionise the agricultural ecosystem.
The minister made this disclosure during a courtesy visit by the Heifer International delegation led by the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Heifer International, Surita Sandosham, in Abuja.
Kyari said that a well-designed market system connects smallholder farmers to higher-value markets, directly increasing their incomes and fostering economic resilience.
He pointed out that effective market strategies encourage private sector investment in agricultural services, reducing reliance on aid and creating sustainable, self-reinforcing markets.
The minister stressed that digital platforms and better market information enable farmers to negotiate better prices, reducing exploitation by intermediaries.
He added that research identifies market access, value addition and strengthened linkages as primary drivers of value chain competitiveness.
Kyari revealed that “Extension Africa, Pullus Africa, Nimsy Agro, Vet Konnect and Thrive Agric stand as strong examples of how catalytic support can help scale agribusiness innovation, improve farmer access to services and strengthen agricultural value chains.”
He acknowledged Heifer International’s continued support of Nigeria’s private sector, saying, “Through your interventions and partnerships, several innovative agribusinesses have emerged and recorded notable success.”
He further revealed that “Heifer International remains a valued and longstanding partner in Nigeria’s agricultural development journey. Over the years, your organisation has made meaningful contributions to supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening agricultural value chains and improving rural livelihoods across the country.
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“These efforts continue to align with our national priorities of building a resilient, productive and inclusive agricultural sector.”
According to him, a laudable initiative within the partnership is Heifer International’s collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture in support of Nigeria’s mechanisation drive.
“Under this initiative, Heifer is working with the bank to deploy trackers and a comprehensive digital platform designed to monitor tractor utilisation, as well as servicing and maintenance schedules, ensuring improved accountability and the longevity of these valuable assets.
“The platform is being offered to the Bank of Agriculture through a loan arrangement alongside technical support, reflecting a practical model that combines digital innovation with institutional strengthening.”
In her remarks, the president of Heifer International, Surita Sandosham, stated that “we are here to align our programme with your national priorities.
“Our goal is as bold as it is necessary: to support two million Nigerian households in achieving a sustainable living income by 2030. We recognise that this vision can only be achieved by the enabling environment you have created, which allows us to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers.”
Sandosham pointed out that “a critical pillar of this transition is our strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and IFAD in the monumental task of harmonising the National Digital Farmers’ Registry.
“We are moving away from the fragmented, inconsistent records of the past and towards a unified, technology-driven database anchored on the National Identification Number.”
She added that, by integrating geo-referencing and sophisticated data mapping, the organisation is ensuring that every intervention, from subsidised inputs to extension services, reaches the real farmers on their real farmlands with absolute transparency.
