Agriculture experts, farmers, and civil society groups have raised concerns about how research is not helping farmers improve food production in Nigeria. At a two-day workshop in Abuja, Dr Eze Onyekpere from the Centre for Social Justice stated that substantial funds are allocated to agricultural research institutes, but farmers are not seeing the benefits.
He said, “We pay researchers with public money, so their work must help farmers grow more food and fight hunger.” Sophie von Knebel of the Heinrich Böll Foundation also emphasised that most farmers are women and that research results must be communicated to them in simple, practical ways.
Fatima Bala-Gummi of SWOFON stated that small-scale women farmers require research to enhance crop yields and alleviate stress. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria has promised to collaborate with all research bodies to share valuable farming ideas with rural farmers and enhance food production nationwide.
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