The Federal Government has said Nigeria’s agricultural sector recorded a 4.39 per cent growth in the second quarter of 2026, with crop production expanding by 3.66 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security Senator Sabi Abdullahi who stated this in a statement marking World food day celebration said the growth indicated that government reforms and investments in the sector were beginning to yield results.

The statement was issued after the the Permanent Secretary Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi led development partners, farmers association and other stakeholders on a walk from FCDA to Millennium park to commemorate the day.

The Minister assured of Federal Government committed to ensuring food security through interventions aimed at increasing food production, reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening agricultural value chains and improving farmers’ profitability.

According to him, the government’s strategy covers the entire agricultural value chain, including research, inputs, storage, processing, financing, marketing and consumption, in collaboration with state governments, farmers’ organisations, development partners, research institutions, financial institutions and the private sector.

He added that Nigeria’s annual domestic wheat production had risen to approximately 420,000 metric tonnes from a previous baseline of 120,000 metric tonnes, representing a 3.5-fold increase.

On mechanisation, the minister said the government had commenced the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme with the commissioning of 2,000 tractors and implements to improve farming efficiency, reduce labour requirements and attract young people to agriculture.

The minister said the government was also addressing high food prices through expanded dry-season farming, investments in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, and the development of storage and cold-chain facilities.
He said the interventions were designed to reduce post-harvest losses from 40 per cent to below 20 per cent.

According to him, the government is combining these measures with the orderly release of food from the Strategic Food Reserve and the implementation of a Guaranteed Minimum Price to support farmers and improve food availability.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to building a productive, resilient and competitive agricultural sector capable of feeding the country and contributing substantially to economic growth.

The Country Representative of United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)Jimmy Owani while speaking during the Walk and Sensitization to mark the 2026 World Food Day reaffirmed their shared commitment to ending hunger, improving nutrition and ensuring healthy diets for all.

Speaking on the theme “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”, said the the theme emphasized that the future of food security, nutrition and sustainable livelihoods depends on the innovations we embrace and the investments we make today.

He said the key message from the celebration is that : the world produces enough food to feed everyone, yet far too many people remain food insecure.

He revealed that an estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, while 2.69 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet, saying the challenge is not simply producing more food, but ensuring that food is accessible, affordable, nutritious and sustainably produced for all.

He pointed out that climate change, conflict, economic instability and environmental degradation continue to place immense pressure on agrifood systems thereby affecting production, disrupting markets and threatening livelihoods, particularly among rural communities and small-scale producers.

He harped that innovation is central to achieving food security and sustainable development, saying innovation is not only about artificial intelligence, drones or sophisticated digital technologies, but also includes climate-smart agriculture, improved farming practices, quality seeds and breeds, irrigation, mechanization, sustainable natural resource management, indigenous knowledge.