The Youths are filled with energy, ability to explore and create, however it has consistently been discovered that few of them are willing and able to engage themselves in Agriculture. These and many more are the fears and worried and concern of the stakeholders at the recently concluded meeting organized by Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers & Exporters of Nigeria (AFGEAN) and Europe- African- Carrabean - Pacific Liaison committee(COLEACP) held on the January 21, 2020 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos Ikeja.


Nigeria is one of the highest producer of several Agricultural products in the world amongst which are; cassava, mango,pineapple etc., f a total of 1 Million tonnes of pineapple was exported to the EU in 2017, Costa Rica is responsible for exporting 900,000 tonnes out of these exported figure.

Interestingly, Nigeria on the other hand produces about 1.5-1.6 Million tonnes of pineapple every year and the country doesn't hold a significant portion of the EU pineapple market.

The case is the same for a lot of other Agricultural products in which Nigeria produce in significant quantities yet most of these produce are not able to make it to the international market due to several reasons ranging from not fit for market, not meeting the specified requirements, inability to meet traceability standards, health concerns, inability to plant the varieties needed.


It therefore calls for concern that as much as a lot of our Agricultural products are unable to make the international market, most of this huge volume are either wasted locally due to inability to properly utilise them across several Agricultural value chain, diseases, lack of infrastructure like roads, water, electricity and other facilities that makes life easy for farmers and the products they produce.


It is worrisome that Nigerian Agricultural sector is described to be about fifty (50) years behind when being compared to her counterparts in the world, and one of the reasons identified is youths not wanting to get involved. Other reasons include; lack of policies that will stimulate the sector, little or no funding of the sector by the Government and most banks hardly fund Agriculture proper, they prefer to fund Agribusiness, lack of investment in knowledge, innovation and skills in schools, research institutions and Universities, inability to address properly issues bothering around climate change and environment.


The basic needs of a youth are not captured in the Agricultural sector; some of the needs identified are prospective future in the sector, a good career path, access to good life, comfortability, proper and efficient remuneration etc., it was realized that those willing to go into the Agricultural sector in Nigeria are seen as Missionaries (Work and labour until everyone understands the concept of what they preach) and not Mercenaries (people who work for a premium and to the highest bidder) and Youths do not want to wait at all before they begin to reap the fruits of their labour.

It is therefore not totally feasible for those who presently dominate the Agricultural sector which is the private sector to meet these "luxurious" payment and expectation of the Youths hence the challenge we currently face on youths not getting involved.

It is important that Youths are introduced to and shown the success stories in Agriculture particularly those of individuals making giant strides in Agriculture in Nigeria, it is also important that the Government begin to actively get the Youths involved in formulating policies that will be instrumental to promoting, positioning and creating an enabling environment for Agriculture to grow in the Country.

The COLEACP Team on their own part gave insight to prospects, trends and pattern, developments, innovations, regulations and other information that will be instrumental to properly positioning the Nigerian Agricultural sector and also open doors for Nigerian Farmers in the EU market. They also promised Technical support and informational support systems to farmers in Nigeria.

Several pilot projects were suggested, and agreed upon and implementation will commence as soon as all the details and machineries are put in place.


Some of those present at the meetings include; Dr Tony Wemton, Henrik Nwanguma of West Atlantic Cold chain and Commodities, Dr Agnes Faseun of Swnacape Farms, Mr Ayokunle Ore of Blooming Farms, Olaoluwa Jeje of Doppler media,Aiyeola Adetiloye Head of Business for Awesome Farms,Emmanuel Eneh of Farm Forte, Detoun Abbi-Olaniyan Chief Farmer at Thistle Berry Farms, Aderonke Aderionye of AgriHub amongst others the COLEACP Team.



Samson Lawal is a Public Speaker, Entrepreneur and Farmer.
07056754409, 08142857392
Samsonspeaks01@gmail.com