Experts Urge Nigerian Youths to Explore Wider Agricultural Value Chain Beyond Farming
Experts have called on Nigerian youths to look beyond traditional farming and explore broader opportunities within the agricultural value chain in order to drive innovation, create jobs, and boost economic growth.
The call was made at a youth-focused conference titled “Beyond Farming: Exploring Real Opportunities Across the Agricultural Value Chain”, held recently in Lagos.
Speakers at the event explained that agriculture offers far more than cultivation alone, noting that areas such as processing, logistics, marketing, agritech, trade, and agricultural finance remain largely untapped by young Nigerians.
The convener of the conference, Chy Nwakanma, said agriculture has long been misunderstood as only farming, leaving out several profitable segments of the sector.
“Agriculture has been narrowly defined, overlooking the vast ecosystem beyond farming, including processing, logistics, trade, technology, and finance,” she said.
According to her, many young people are willing to participate in agriculture but often lack clear guidance on how to get started or identify their role within the sector.
“Young people are interested, we are curious, we are willing, but many are asking: Where do I start? What role can I play? How do I move from interest to action?” she added.
She explained that the “Beyond Farming” initiative was created to bridge that gap by moving conversations from inspiration to practical opportunities that can lead to real engagement and entrepreneurship.
In her keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said agriculture has evolved into a modern, technology-driven and business-oriented sector.
Represented by an official of the ministry, she said agriculture in today’s world goes beyond cultivation and now includes innovation, logistics, climate resilience, finance, and food enterprise.
She highlighted ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to strengthen food systems and reduce post-harvest losses, including the development of a large-scale food logistics and aggregation centre expected to serve as one of the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Olusanya also noted that the state is investing in youth participation through training programmes, internships, and enterprise support under its agricultural initiatives.
“We’re nurturing startups solving real problems across food production, logistics, processing, market systems, and climate-smart agriculture,” she said.
She added that the future of agriculture may not necessarily be tied to traditional farming tools, as young people could also participate through technology, innovation, and digital platforms.
“The future farmer may not carry a hoe. They may design farm equipment software, develop AI-powered tools, or build digital marketplaces,” she said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, said Nigeria’s progress in food security and economic diversification depends largely on how well young people are engaged in the agricultural sector.
Represented by a senior official of the ministry, he described the conference as a movement aimed at repositioning agriculture and livestock development with youths at the centre.
He said government reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda are focused on food security, job creation, and expanding access to land, credit, and markets for agribusinesses.
Maiha urged young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in animal production, processing, logistics, and related value chains.
“The transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector will be driven by the youth’s hunger to succeed. Start where you are and use what you have,” he said.
He expressed optimism that such engagements would inspire innovation, partnerships, and solutions capable of transforming the agricultural sector into a major driver of national development.
