FCMB links value-chain coordination to improved food security
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have called for stronger coordination across the value chain to improve productivity and food security at BusinessDay Future of Agriculture Conference in Lagos. The theme:
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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have called for stronger coordination across the value chain to improve productivity and food security at BusinessDay Future of Agriculture Conference in Lagos.
The theme: “From Seed to Feed: Strengthening Agricultural Input for Food Security,” brought together policymakers, agribusiness operators, financial institutions, and development partners to discuss constraints in input systems, financing, and infrastructure.
Participants included Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Systems, Oluwarotimi Fashola; Chief Executive of Babban Gona, Kola Masha; and Group Chief Executive Officer of AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, who delivered a keynote on improving farmers’ access to quality input to boost food production.
In a panel session, Kudzai Gumunyu, Divisional head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said financial institutions have a central role in supporting Nigeria’s largely smallholder-driven agricultural sector.
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“With smallholder farmers accounting for nearly 90 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural production, the focus must be on building inclusive financing models that address their unique realities. This means strengthening risk mitigation frameworks through structured guarantees and partnerships that de-risk lending while ensuring farmers access capital to grow.”
He said a structured, value-chain-led approach would improve outcomes. This would benefit production, aggregation, and market access.
“Sustainable agricultural growth requires coordinated value chain mobilisation, where financial institutions effectively channel funds from depositors into well-structured agricultural value chains. By aligning financing with production, aggregation, and market access, we can unlock productivity, improve yields, and strengthen food security outcomes.”
Discussions also focused on improving access to quality input, expanding infrastructure, and strengthening collaboration between public- and private-sector participants.
FCMB said it will continue to support agribusiness and non-oil exports through partnerships to improve access to finance and building more resilient agricultural systems.
