Nigeria wants to shift from exporting raw farm products to local processing and industrial production. Agribusiness leaders, investors, and policymakers will look into investment chances in Africa’s agricultural value chains.
The fifth Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference will take place from 25 to 28 October in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Organizers aim to link farmers with investors, processors, banks, and international markets.
Howard Usen is the South-south zonal coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative. He is also the chairman of the conference’s planning committee. He said the event aims to help form business partnerships and attract investment in agriculture.
In a statement about the conference, Mr Usen said the focus will be on finding opportunities in agricultural processing, financing, technology, market access, and climate-smart farming.
The theme of the conference is “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity.”
The event will gather government officials, investors, development partners, farmers, agribusiness leaders, technology providers, and banks. They will look for projects that can generate profit and increase agricultural production.
A major focus will be on building agro-processing facilities, storage systems, packaging, mechanization, and cold-chain infrastructure. This will help farmers get more value from what they produce.
The organizers also want to explore finance options for agricultural projects. This includes blended finance, climate finance, and private-sector investment. They will also look at how Nigerian businesses can expand into other African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The conference will give project developers a chance to meet potential financiers. Producers can also connect with processors, exporters, and buyers.
Nigeria has a lot of agricultural resources. But turning production into successful agro-industrial businesses needs investment in infrastructure, processing, logistics, and steady access to markets.
The conference will try to bring all these elements together. It aims to create chances for investment matchmaking, business-to-government talks, technology sharing, and strategic partnerships.
The event will also discuss climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land use, renewable energy, and green financing. These topics are important as climate change threatens farming and rural livelihoods.
According to the organizers, policymakers and regulators will join in discussions about the policies, infrastructure, and incentives needed to attract investment and strengthen agricultural businesses.
This conference comes at a time when there is a push to promote agriculture as a source of jobs, food security, and economic growth across the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.
In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the federal government and Niger Delta Development Commission wanted to set up a $500 million agricultural development and investment fund. This fund aims to boost agricultural production and create jobs.
This initiative shows the region’s potential to build agricultural businesses around crops like cassava, oil palm, cocoa, rice, aquaculture, and livestock.
The Uyo conference is expected to offer another chance for stakeholders to see how investment, processing ability, and stronger market ties can turn these chances into real businesses.
Holding the event in Uyo also allows Akwa Ibom to showcase its agricultural resources and investment opportunities to potential partners.
Agricultural growth and rural development is one of the five pillars of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda. This agenda includes developing value chains around key agricultural products.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state was preparing an investment plan covering agriculture, tourism, aviation, power, maritime, manufacturing, and information technology.
This conference could be a way for the state to engage investors interested in agricultural production, processing, and export businesses.
But the economic success of such gatherings will depend on whether they lead to real investments, operational businesses, market agreements, and jobs.
The organizers said the conference will include business meetings and chances for stakeholders to find projects and build commercial ties.
The four-day event will take place in Uyo from 25 to 28 October.
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