The second edition of the Farm, Food and Allied Technologies Expo (FarmFaTech 2025) has opened in Abuja, providing a platform for discussions on technology-driven agricultural development in Nigeria.
Held at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the three-day event attracted farmers, researchers, policymakers, financiers, and technology providers from across Nigeria and Africa. Themed “Technology, Finance and Sustainability in Agribusiness,” the expo is organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in collaboration with Autodex Limited, with support from Afreximbank and UBA.
Speaking on behalf of ACCI President Dr Emeka Obegolu, Vice President on Agriculture Mr Olasetemi Bode Thompson emphasised the importance of mechanised farming, digital agriculture, and sustainable value-chain practices to improving productivity and efficiency in the sector. He noted that technology could help address challenges such as insecurity, limited access to arable land, and labour shortages, describing digital tools as the “new tractor” in modern agriculture.
Chairman of the FarmFaTech Planning Committee, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, said the expo seeks to connect innovation, finance, and practical farming, creating a continental hub for agricultural technology, investment, and policy collaboration.
Afreximbank highlighted initiatives such as the Africa Trade Gateway and the Africa Quality Assurance Centre in Ogun State, designed to improve market access, certification, and trade compliance for African agribusinesses. The bank reaffirmed its support for financing solutions across agricultural value chains.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, including Permanent Secretary Mr Marcus Olaniyi and Mr Abubakar Musa, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to advancing digitalisation and innovation under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
Exhibitors presented a range of technologies, including tractors, E-tricycles, renewable energy systems, digital finance platforms, and smart farming solutions. Demonstrations and networking sessions were organised to link farmers with technology providers, investors, and policymakers.
FarmFaTech 2025 aims to strengthen the integration of policy, technology, and investment in agriculture, with stakeholders noting that such initiatives could accelerate mechanisation, digital adoption, and sustainable growth in the sector, supporting national food security and economic transformation.
Last week, Obegolu, at a press briefing in Abuja, ahead of the second edition of the FARMFATECH 2025, said mechanisation was critical to increasing productivity and overcoming constraints posed by limited labour and security concerns.
Represented at the briefing by the Director-General of ACCI, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, he said, “We don’t have food security yet, but we are moving towards it,” Obegolu said. “Mechanisation enables large-scale production—what one or two people can do manually is multiplied many times through technology. That’s the major focus of this initiative.”
He added that modern machinery and technology could mitigate the impact of farmer-herder conflicts, which have disrupted farming activities in several regions. “We are aware of the security concerns that make farming difficult in some areas. Mechanisation helps bridge that gap by allowing production to continue efficiently and safely,” he explained.
