Kyari Advocates Strategic Market Systems To Transform Nigeria’s Agriculture

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has emphasized the need for a strategic market system to transform Nigeria’s agriculture from subsistence farming into profitable and sustainable value chains.

Kyari made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Heifer International led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Surita Sandosham.

The Minister noted that an effective market system would connect smallholder farmers to higher-value markets, increase their incomes, and attract private sector investment into agricultural services. He added that digital platforms and improved market information would enable farmers to negotiate better prices and reduce exploitation by middlemen.

Kyari also commended Heifer International for its continued support to Nigeria’s agricultural sector and highlighted its collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture to strengthen the country’s mechanisation drive through a digital platform that tracks tractor usage, servicing, and maintenance.

In her remarks, Sandosham said Heifer International aims to support two million Nigerian households to achieve sustainable living incomes by 2030 and is working with the Ministry and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to harmonize the National Digital Farmers’ Registry linked to the National Identification Number.