Women Farmers, NGOs raise alarm over 36% decline in agric budget amid food Inflation

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) with other two groups have raised concerns over a significant decline in the 2025 agriculture budget, warning that the 36.19% reduction could exacerbate the country’s already dire food insecurity situation. 

SWOFON with Community Agriculture Non-State Actors (COANSA) in a press briefing organized by ActionAid, Nigeria observed a sharp decline from N996.9 billion budget in 2024 to N636.08b this year which implies a downward trend from 2.84 percent last year to 1.2% in 2025.

The farmers' coalition described the downtrend as far below the 10% benchmark set by the Malabo Declaration where African Heads of States signed the agreement towards boosting food productivity.

These groups unanimously criticized the Federal Government ( FG) for failing to prioritize Agriculture, warning that underfunding the sector could worsen hunger, poverty, and economic instability.

The National President, SWOFON, Hajia Fatima Gumi, pointed out that even with the inclusion of the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock, the total budget for the sector only amounts to N647.88 billion that she described as a mere 1.3% of the total national budget.

Stakeholders also expressed concern over the drastic reduction in the capital allocation for the FMAFS which dropped from N886.65 billion in 2024 to N405.93 billion in 2025, saying that the cut has been hindering the Ministry from implementing critical agricultural policies like the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).

The groups also expressed a lack of detailed information on how the N132.3b  budget with 97% of it as a capital project being allocated to the National Agricultural Development Fund ( NAFD) for the Renewed Hope Fertilizers Support Program ( RH-FSP) is going to be spent.

They said that the lack of detailed implementation plans for the fertilizer program has sparked fears that the funds may not be effectively utilized just as they questioned the N3b for NADF office buildings, arguing that such funds should be redirected to more pressing agricultural interventions.

The groups commended President Bola Tinubu for proposing an additional N1.5 trillion for the re-capitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), N500 billion for the Bank of Industry (BoI), and N380 billion for irrigation development through River Basin Development Authorities as they urged the government to ensure timely and full release of these funds. 

They emphasized that the delays in recapitalizing the Bank of Agriculture had historically hindered its ability to support small older farmers.

SWOFON, COANSA, and ActionAid Nigeria thereby made the following recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

A. Prioritize funding for extension services, access to credit, women and youth in agriculture, climate-resilient farming, and post-harvest loss reduction.

B. Redirect funds from administrative expenses to meaningful agricultural development programs.

C. Ensure the new Ministry of Livestock is adequately funded and structured for effective operations.

D. Improve access to credit for smallholder farmers by expediting the recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture.

E. Increase funding for women farmers and gender-sensitive agricultural programs to ensure their voices are heard in policy formulation and implementation.

F. Enhance investments in irrigation, processing, and storage facilities to boost food production and reduce post-harvest losses.

G. The groups emphasized that massive investment in agriculture is essential to tackle food insecurity, reduce poverty, and ensure economic stability. They called on President Tinubu and state governors to take urgent action by prioritizing agriculture in budget planning and implementation.

“We are deeply dismayed and unsettled by the future of our country’s food and nutrition security, given the shockingly insufficient allocations, untimely releases, and lack of total capital releases to the agriculture sector,” said Fatima Gumi. “Agriculture should be the President’s top priority. If funded adequately, it can address the hunger and hardship that citizens are currently enduring.