Edo AFAN urges more support for young farmers
Edo AFAN urges more support for young farmers
The Edo State chapter of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has emphasized that beyond input distribution, young farmers need increased government funding, improved infrastructure, and access to mechanised equipment, as Edo AFAN urges more support for young farmers.
The Youth Leader of the association, Mr Unity Edosa, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.
Edosa said that his group “needs more than farm inputs to make agriculture viable”.
He thanked Gov. Monday Okpebholo for the resumption of distribution of farm inputs to farmers this current planting season.
He said that in spite the growing interest, young farmers in the state were being retarded by multiple challenges.
He listed the challenges to include difficulty accessing funds, high cost of inputs, insecurity in some farming areas, poor rural roads that make transportation expensive and the lack of access to modern equipment and proper training..
“Many young people want to farm, but without mechanisation and training, it becomes difficult for them to venture into it,” he explained.
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Edosa, who is the Managing Director, Emedos Agro Industries Limited, said that the gesture “signals renewed attention toàà agriculture”.
According to him, more practical support is needed in funding, mechanisation, and market access to attract and sustain young people to farming.
“As AFAN youth leader, my role is to bring young farmers together, guide them, and ensure their voices are heard in policy discussions,” he said
Edosa further said that his focus was to change the youth’s mindset that agriculture is only a traditional or subsistence activity.
“I work on encouraging more youths to see agriculture as a serious business opportunity.
“Agriculture today involves technology, innovation, business strategy, and even digital solutions.
“My own entry into farming was shaped by personal experience.
“After losing my father, my mother turned to farming to support the family.
”Watching her succeed, and witnessing the reality of unemployment and food insecurity in the country, convinced me that agriculture could create wealth and empower communities,” Edosa said.
He said that opportunities abound beyond the farm, adding that “agriculture in 2026 is bigger than planting crops”.
He cited fast-growing areas like food processing, packaging, poultry, fish farming, export, greenhouse farming, and agricultural technology.
Edosa said that his group of young farmers focused on mentorship, training, awareness campaigns, and helping one another connect with opportunities.
He further said that cooperative groups were being encouraged “because they make it easier for youths to access grants, partnerships, and bulk purchasing of inputs”.
He said: “Farming today is a business that requires planning, innovation, and patience.
“Once youths understand that farming can generate steady income and create independence, they will begin to take it more seriously,” he said
He called on government and private investors to make funding easier, provide modern farming equipment, improve infrastructure, support agricultural training, and create policies that encourage young entrepreneurs.
“Agriculture grows faster when there is collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Young people have the energy and ideas; they just need the right support system,” Edosa said.
