Amidst rising cost of input, and reduction in prices of food, stakeholders have urged government to scale up support to smallholder farmers especially in sustainable farming practices.

The stakeholders made the call at a one-day high level dialogue FCT Multi-Stakeholder Agroecology Network and Market Systems, organised by YouthHubAfrica in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja

The call comes at a critical time when smallholder farmers are facing increasing climate-related challenges, rising production costs, declining soil fertility, and limited access to markets.

The Program Officer, YouthHubAfrica, Peter Ogah lamented the difficulty faced by many young farmer saying many of them struggle to recover even half of their investment after harvest due to extremely high cost of production.

He highlighted inadequate funding as a major factor preventing young people from fully engaging in the sector, saying most of their support comes from Civil Societies and international organisations.

Also, An agri-tech expert, Goodness Ofido, has noted that while awareness campaigns were essential, adequate funding remained a key requirement for the successful adoption and expansion of agroecological practices across the country.

Responding to concerns about financing climate-related interventions and sustainable agricultural systems, she stressed that no development initiative can thrive without sufficient financial support.

“Funding is an essential part of this process. We want to call on stakeholders, governments, development partners, and every other actor within the system who can provide funding to support organisations that are driving this change and impact,” she stated.

According to her, educating farmers, youths, and community members on the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices will create a network of informed individuals who can further spread the message.

Also, the Principal Youth Development Officer, Ministry of Youth Development, Maryam Ndayako said young people constituted a significant proportion of Nigeria’s population and are critical drivers of agricultural transformation, food security, and climate resilience.

She said as climate change continues to affect livelihoods and increase migration pressures and it was imperative that we created opportunities for youth to actively participate in climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, and sustainable value chains.

She assured that the ministry remained committed to supporting initiatives that equip young people with relevant skills, improve access to productive resources and markets, and foster innovation within the agricultural sector.

“We believe that meaningful youth engagement is essential for building resilient food systems, reducing unemployment, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

“We therefore welcome the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders present here to identify practical solutions, strengthen partnerships, and develop inclusive policies that empower young people to contribute effectively to climate resilience and national food security,” she said.