By Atoyebi Nike
Renowned economist and Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Doyin Salami, has called for the adoption of farmer aggregation as a strategy to improve Nigeria’s agricultural productivity.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Public Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos on Wednesday, themed “Poverty Alleviation, Economic Development & Stability of the Nigerian Economy,” Salami said smallholder farmers, who make up 80% of the sector, often struggle to manage cooperatives. He proposed farmer aggregation as a viable model to connect farmers with inputs, financing, and extension services.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, he noted agriculture contributed 27.8% to GDP in Q1 2025, up from 24.6% in 2024, but warned that food insecurity remains a pressing challenge.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, in his remarks, stressed collaborative efforts to fight poverty, highlighting initiatives to support farmers and reduce food inflation. Reverend Sam Aboyeji, General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, described the theme of the lecture as urgent, saying no nation can achieve stability without tackling poverty.
