Leaders from 85 commodity associations and agricultural organisations across the Southwest convened at the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to advance the establishment of the Southwest Farmers Association, a unified platform aimed at strengthening advocacy and representation for the region’s agricultural sector. Building on the momentum from an initial summit held in January at the DAWN Commission headquarters, the strategic meeting brought together representatives of diverse agricultural interests to deepen collaboration, consolidate farmers’ voices and identify practical solutions to challenges limiting agricultural productivity across the region.
Discussions focused on addressing key operational bottlenecks while leveraging the comparative agricultural strengths and opportunities of each Southwest state. Participants emphasised the need for stronger regional coordination to improve farmers’ access to resources, strengthen agricultural value chains and create an enabling environment for increased production and investment.
During the session, farm leaders outlined crucial priority areas to accelerate regional food security and economic growth:
- Infrastructure & Resource Access: Access to farmland, accelerating land clearing, rehabilitating moribund dams, and upgrading rural feeder roads.
- Supply Chain & Market Integration: Expanding cooperative farming models, establishing modern storage hubs, and structuring reliable off-taking mechanisms.
- Security & Regulatory Enforcement: Enforcing anti-grazing laws strictly, improving farmgate safety, and protecting agricultural investments across the region.
The proposed association is expected to provide a common platform through which farmers can engage governments and other stakeholders, articulate shared priorities and advocate for policies that support sustainable agricultural development, improved farmer welfare and regional food security. “Our collective goal is clear: to build a stronger, highly coordinated voice for farmers across the Southwest and drive actionable policy decisions for sustainable agricultural development,” the stakeholders emphasized in a joint statement.
The initiative marks a significant step towards building a more coordinated agricultural sector in the Southwest, with stakeholders seeking to translate the region’s agricultural potential into stronger economic opportunities and improved livelihoods for farmers. The newly formed Southwest Farmers Association will serve as the primary umbrella body representing farmers’ welfare, negotiating state-level partnerships, and driving regional agricultural transformation.