Expert Urges Governments to Prioritise Agriculture in 2026 Budgets, Calls for Agro-Hubs Across 774 LGAs

As preparations for the 2026 budget cycle gather momentum, a university don and agricultural expert, Dr. Philips Nto, has urged governments at all levels to make agriculture a top funding priority to strengthen food security across the country.

Dr. Nto, who serves as the Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, emphasised that increased agricultural funding in the 2026 budgets of federal, state, and local governments is vital for boosting yields, enhancing value addition, and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

Speaking during a media tour of the Centre’s pilot farms, Dr. Nto underscored the need for higher budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector, noting its central role in driving Nigeria’s economic development. “Now that national revenue is rising, more investment should be directed into agriculture and agribusiness to secure our future,” he stated.

The former Abia State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development stressed that agricultural funding should focus more on value addition to reduce post-harvest losses. He also advocated for targeted subsidies for genuine farmers and the revitalisation of agricultural extension services to make them more effective.

According to him, “Agriculture is a dynamic sector that demands continuous training of rural farmers. Reviving extension services will equip them with new techniques for improved productivity. The Agribusiness Incubation Centres in our universities can play a key role in driving this process.”

Dr. Nto further proposed the establishment of industrial agro-hubs in all 774 local government areas, tailored to the specific crops grown in each region. He suggested that such hubs could be jointly financed by federal, state, and local governments through an integrated funding scheme aimed at boosting food production and processing capacity.

While commending the Federal Government for its ongoing tax reforms, Dr. Nto expressed optimism that revenue generated from the new tax regime would be channelled into funding agricultural initiatives, particularly the creation of the proposed agro-industrial hubs nationwide.