Nigeria Establishes Committee to Accelerate Agricultural Production

Nigeria’s Federal Government has established a technical committee to accelerate agricultural production, expand livestock development and strengthen food security as the country seeks to increase domestic food supplies and improve farming activities nationwide.

Vice President Kashim Shettima constituted the committee on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during a high-level meeting on agricultural sector performance and strategic interventions at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The committee is expected to develop a blueprint for implementing agricultural interventions, with particular attention to wheat production, other staple crops, livestock development and dry-season farming.

The move follows discussions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, government officials and agricultural stakeholders on the challenges affecting food production and the need to strengthen coordination across the agricultural sector. The development was reported by Voice of Nigeria and other Nigerian news organisations. (VON⁠)

Government Targets Increased Food Production

The establishment of the committee comes as the government seeks to improve food availability by addressing constraints facing farmers and encouraging agricultural activities throughout the year.

Wheat and other staple crops are among the priority areas identified for increased production. Expanding local output could help strengthen domestic food supplies and reduce the country’s dependence on imported agricultural commodities.

The committee will also examine opportunities to expand livestock development, another important component of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.

Shettima urged members to combine their expertise and develop a clear framework for implementing the government’s planned interventions.

Rather than operating independently, the relevant ministries, departments and agencies are expected to coordinate their efforts and identify practical measures that can improve agricultural productivity.

The committee’s work is intended to help the government determine which interventions should receive priority and how existing resources can be used more effectively.

Dry-Season Farming and Year-Round Agriculture

A major focus of the initiative is expanding dry-season farming to enable farmers to produce crops outside the traditional rainy season.

In many parts of Nigeria, agricultural production is heavily influenced by seasonal rainfall. Increasing access to irrigation and improving the management of water resources could allow farmers to cultivate their land for longer periods.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari said discussions at the meeting addressed critical challenges facing farmers and ways to use available resources to increase wheat production and dry-season cultivation.

He explained that President Tinubu had directed the Vice President to identify existing obstacles in the agricultural sector and work towards addressing them.

The government’s broader objective is to encourage year-round farming through better coordination between federal institutions and state and local governments.

If effectively implemented, these efforts could help farmers maintain more consistent production, improve the availability of selected crops and reduce some of the disruptions associated with seasonal farming.

However, the results will depend on practical measures being introduced to address farmers’ needs, including access to water, suitable seeds, financing and agricultural support services. (VON⁠)

Committee Includes Agricultural Institutions and Financial Agencies

The technical committee brings together representatives from government ministries and institutions responsible for agricultural policy, finance, research, mechanisation and production.

Participating ministries include the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Livestock Development.

Other participants include officials responsible for presidential livestock reforms, agribusiness and productivity enforcement, food security and livestock development.

The chief executives of several institutions are also represented, including the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, National Agricultural Seeds Council and National Agricultural Development Fund.

Additional institutions include the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, National Sugar Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Commodities Exchange and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.

The inclusion of these organisations is intended to bring together expertise in agricultural financing, land development, seed production, mechanisation and related areas.

The committee will be coordinated by Marion Moon, Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Agriculture and Head of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit.

Its report will undergo further review before being presented to the Vice President and subsequently to the President. This means that the committee’s establishment is an initial administrative step rather than confirmation that all proposed interventions have already begun. (VON⁠)

Government Calls for Stronger Coordination

During the meeting, Moon highlighted the importance of cooperation among the federal, state and local governments.

She noted that agricultural development is a shared responsibility and that gaps in coordination can make it difficult to understand conditions at the state and local levels.

Better communication between the different tiers of government could help national agricultural policies respond more effectively to local farming conditions.

For example, farming communities may face different challenges depending on their location, including access to irrigation, storage facilities, roads, farm inputs and markets.

Coordinated planning could help government agencies identify these differences and direct interventions towards areas where they are most needed.

It could also improve the monitoring of government programmes and make it easier to assess whether resources are translating into increased production.

What the Initiative Could Mean for Nigerian Farmers

The committee’s work could have implications for farmers, food processors, agricultural businesses and consumers if its recommendations lead to effective action.

Increased production of staple crops could improve the domestic supply of food and provide more opportunities for local agricultural businesses. Expanding livestock development could also support related activities, including processing, distribution and marketing.

Nevertheless, establishing a committee alone will not guarantee higher production or lower food prices.

The impact will depend on the recommendations it produces, the funding and resources made available, and the government’s ability to implement programmes in collaboration with state and local authorities.

Farmers will also need practical support that addresses the everyday challenges of agricultural production.

As the committee develops its recommendations, attention is expected to remain on wheat production, dry-season farming, livestock development and stronger coordination among agricultural institutions.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s decision to establish a technical committee marks a renewed effort to accelerate agricultural production and strengthen food security.

By bringing together ministries, financial institutions and agricultural agencies, the government aims to develop a coordinated plan for expanding staple crop production, supporting livestock development and encouraging year-round farming.

The next important step will be turning the committee’s recommendations into practical interventions that reach farmers and improve agricultural output across the country.