Agriculture Budget Slashed: Food Crisis Looms, Minister Warns

By Linda Ike

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has raised the alarm over shrinking budgetary allocations, warning that low funding risks derailing food security and economic recovery nationwide.

Presenting the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal to joint Senate and House Committees on Agricultural Production, Services, and Rural Development, Minister of State, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stressed that interventions anchor on President Bola Tinubu’s food security emergency.

The strategy targets higher output across value chains, sustainability, and farmer resilience, with thanks to lawmakers for past backing and a pledge for prudent resource use.

Abdullahi noted farmers’ commitment yielded slight output gains despite hurdles, but sustaining this demands fixes for high input costs, funding shortages, and operational snags.

In 2025, personnel costs hit targets, but capital projects suffered from delayed releases leaving about 30% of ₦18 billion undisbursed. For 2026, the sector eyes ₦1 trillion total, including ₦262 billion capital and ₦19.18 billion recurrent for the ministry.

He spotlighted soaring costs from gas pricing, taxes on chemicals, and macro pressures, leaving farmers squeezed as market prices lag production expenses. Nationwide, 7,000 tractors sit underused; Abdullahi pushed tech uptake, high-yield seeds, and stronger extension services.

Agriculture powered 29.44% of GDP in 2024 and 26.17% in Q2 2025, yet funding hovers at 4% of the national budget short of Maputo Declaration’s 10% benchmark.

House Committee Chairman, Bello Ka’oje warned cuts threaten food security, jobs, poverty reduction, and growth, urging priority funding, prompt releases, youth/women inclusion, and National Agricultural Development Fund reforms.

He called for mechanisation, irrigation, research, climate resilience, and post-harvest loss cuts.

Senate Committee Chairman, Saliu Mustapha agreed, cautioning low allocations worsen hunger and stall progress.

Both panels pledged collaboration to ensure the 2026 budget boosts farmer livelihoods, agribusiness, and affordable food for all Nigerians.