Youth Exclusion, Insecurity Hindering Nigeria’s Agricultural Future, says Davids

The Managing Director Xtralage farms, Dr. Moji Davids, has warned that Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy through agriculture will remain largely ineffective unless the Federal Government urgently tackles insecurity in food-producing regions and commits to practical, youth-driven reforms in the sector.

Speaking during a recent interview on Arise TV’s Newsday programme, Davids said the biggest threat to agricultural growth is the growing insecurity across key food basket states where farmers are increasingly unable to access their farmlands due to attacks by bandits and insurgents.

“How safe can you be going to the farm when you know you may not return?” she asked. “Security is not something private individuals can fix. Only the government can address this. Until farm communities feel protected, all these conversations about agriculture will not translate into real impact.”

Davids, who argued that lack of seriousness at both national and community levels, noted that for decades, Nigeria has made repeated calls for diversification without matching them with consistent action.

“The problem is not whether Nigeria has land,” she said. “We have massive arable land. The problem is that we are not putting it to effective use. Countries smaller than us are doing far more with agriculture.”

According to her, the country continues to operate predominantly at a subsistence level, far from the mechanised and technology-driven agriculture needed to support economic recovery.

She stressed that sustainable progress hinges on attracting young people, who make up more than 60 percent of the population, into the sector. But this requires changing the long-standing perception of farming as dirty, poor-paying work for those with no other options.

“You can’t hand cutlasses and hoes to today’s youth and expect them to join agriculture,” she argued. “We have to make it attractive, innovative and technology driven.”

Davids called for massive training programmes, practical farm-based education rather than classroom lectures, and creative initiatives such as agritourism to draw youth interest.

While commending recent federal efforts to provide funding and support to agribusinesses, she said the impact remains limited because grassroots communities, where most farming occurs, are still largely left behind.

Davids cited a recent win at the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, where a young agro-processor working to reduce tomato post-harvest losses secured a ₦250 million investment, as evidence that youth-led agribusiness can thrive if supported.

“That is the type of platform young people need to see that agriculture is viable,” she said.

She noted that any meaningful diversification effort must combine government policies with community-level awareness, innovation, and youth-focused programmes.

“We’ve talked about diversification for years. Now is the time to act,” she said.

Nigeria’s renewed focus on agriculture comes as global oil markets face increasing volatility, making the sector a critical pathway for economic stability. Experts warn that without coordinated reforms, improved security and genuine political will, the country risks losing momentum in its transition from oil dependency to sustainable agricultural development.