The Managing Director of Autodex Nigeria Limited, Prince Tony Ifeakandu has stated explicitly that Nigeria needs to build an integrated agricultural ecosystem that would produce efficiently, record fewer losses, and finances strategically to meet recognised standards, as well as exports competitively.

Ifeakandu made the assertion in Abuja on the upcoming Farmfatech Expo 2026, the third edition of Nigeria’s Farm, Food and Allied Technologies, bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, investors, technology providers,farmers manufacturers, and development partners.

He also explained that the event is strategically scheduled for November 9-11, saying that the participation would reflect the importance of bringing finance, policy, agricultural development, trade, risk management and security into a coordinated national conversation.

“Our agricultural challenge is not simply how to produce more food, but how to mechanise production, expand irrigation, preserve harvested crops, improve logistics and storage, and transform outputs into commercially viable products for domestic consumption and export.”

Ifeakandu added that post-harvest losses represent major economic opportunity, and “if we could preserve, process, commercially export the agricultural produce it currently losses after harvest, the additional value generated could be transformative for the national economy.” 

According to him, Farmfatech Expo therefore will place particular emphasis on modern drying systems, storage infrastructure, cold-chain development, standardised logistics, processing and market access, mobilising Nigeria’s Agricultural Ecosystem for Industrialisation.

Also, the Chairman of Organising Committee, Dr Nnamdi Ezeani, emphasised that the aims are to move the conversation beyond agricultural potential towards practical collaboration, investment and measurable outcomes, and driving local manufacturing, technology transfer, finance and export for Africa’s prosperity

He argued that agricultural potential cannot be fully converted into economic prosperity without bringing together government, financial institutions, investors, manufacturers, farmers, technology providers and development partners to develop practical solutions.

On certification and traceability, Ezeani stated that they are trying to strengthen farmers’ identification, product, quality assurance and standards required for domestic and international markets, while aligning production, logistics, certification and processing with regional and global market requirements. 

“Therefore, we need mechanisation, irrigation, modern processing, drying, storage, cold-chain infrastructure and efficient logistics to reduce post-harvest losses and make our agricultural products competitive in local and international markets,” he added.

He stressed that one of the major barriers to agricultural transformation is access to appropriate and structured financing, noting that farmers need financing models that connect production to reliable markets, irrigation, processing, storage and export contracts.

“The 2026 Farmfatech is a call for collective action, and our objective is to move from discussions to partnerships, from partnerships to investment, and from investment to measurable results for Nigerian farmers and agribusinesses.

“We also seek to promote agricultural clusters, strengthen farm security, improve farmer certification and product, and standardise logistics and cold-chain systems. It is an engine for industrialisation, employment, investment, export growth and national development.”