ActionAid Nigeria trains 135,000 farmers, youths in climate-smart agriculture

ActionAid Nigeria says it has equipped over 135,000 smallholder farmers and youths, mostly women, with skills to adopt climate-resilient farming practices across several states.

The Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said the intervention was implemented through the Strategic Partnerships for Agroecology and Climate Justice in West Africa (SPAC) project to promote agroecology and strengthen inclusive food systems.

Mamedu spoke at a national town hall meeting on “Land Use Act and Alternative Frameworks for Access and Control over Land for Smallholder Women Farmers and Young People in Agroecology” in Abuja.

He emphasised that land remains central to agroecology, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, describing it as more than just a productive asset.

According to him, the organisation has also recorded progress in supporting farmers to access and control land through community and institutional engagement.

He cited several examples, including the allocation of three hectares of land to Ojoloro Agbe Farmers’ Cooperative in Ugbe community, Akoko North-East Local Government Area, by community leaders.

Mamedu added that three hectares were earlier allocated in Ibusa, Delta, by the state Ministry of Agriculture for the establishment of an agroecology model farm, while one hectare was provided in 2026 to Oke-Agbe/Irun Farmers Group in Akoko North-West Local Government Area by the traditional ruler.

He further said 17 hectares had been committed for allocation to farmers across Dutse, Kiyawa and Miga LGAs in Jigawa, alongside 1.2 hectares donated by Dutse Local Government Council in 2025.

“In the same year, two acres of land were allocated to a smallholder woman farmer in Akunnara community in Ondo West Local Government Area, while over 44 acres were accessed by women farmers across Delta State through community engagement,” he said.

He noted that the achievements demonstrated the impact of collaboration among communities, traditional institutions and government actors, but stressed that systemic barriers still limit equitable access to land; especially for women and young people.

Mamedu identified key challenges, including competing land use for residential and commercial purposes, poor infrastructure, and long distances to farmlands.

“These realities show that land access and control are structural issues requiring deliberate policy and institutional reforms,” he said.

He added that the Land Use Act, though designed to regulate land administration, has limitations in ensuring equitable access and tenure security due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, weak enforcement and socio-cultural constraints.

Mamedu said the meeting provided a platform to bridge gaps between evidence, policy and practice, particularly in addressing climate shocks, land degradation and rising food insecurity affecting vulnerable farmers.

He stressed that without secure land access, integrating economic trees and achieving sustainable income through agroecology would remain difficult, thereby constraining rural economic growth.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said access to land remained a major challenge for millions of Nigerians, particularly women and youth.

Represented by Mr Tanimu Ibrahim, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Ogunbiyi noted that structural, legal and socio-cultural barriers continue to undermine agricultural productivity and inclusive economic growth.

He said the Land Use Act of 1978 has generated concerns over equity, tenure security and accessibility, especially for women and young people.

According to him, the town hall meeting offers an opportunity to examine alternative frameworks that can promote inclusive and gender-responsive land governance.

He described agroecology as a pathway that aligns agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability, climate adaptation and social inclusion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting brought together representatives of government institutions, development partners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, farmer groups, women, youth networks, and the private sector.

NAN