By Jimoh Babatunde

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural sector have called for a transition to large-scale commercial farming as a strategic solution to the country’s persistent food shortages, post-harvest losses and investment risks in the sector.
The call comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen food security and stimulate agricultural productivity across the country.
The stakeholders, drawn from government, banking, agribusiness and farming communities, spoke in Lagos during the unveiling of a corporate farming initiative designed to promote structured, large-scale agricultural production.
They stressed that Nigeria must move beyond the current fragmented smallholder farming system and adopt more coordinated commercial farming models capable of increasing productivity and reducing food losses across the value chain.
At the event, Origin Tech Group unveiled its Corporate Farm Model, describing the initiative as a platform aimed at supporting large-scale farming through technical support, structured financing and guaranteed markets for farm produce.
Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince Samuel, said the initiative was designed to address long-standing risks that have discouraged investment in agriculture despite the sector’s enormous potential.
According to him, many banks and private investors had previously suffered losses after financing agricultural projects that lacked proper structure, coordination and access to reliable markets.
Samuel noted that inefficiencies within Nigeria’s food supply chain also contribute significantly to food waste, revealing that as much as 50 per cent of food produced in Lagos is lost before it reaches consumers.
He explained that the corporate farm model seeks to mitigate these risks by providing investors with technical farm management, access to farmland, financing support and assured market outlets for agricultural produce.
Samuel added that Nigeria’s agriculture is still dominated by scattered smallholder farms, a system that makes agricultural services expensive and discourages large-scale investment.
Under the initiative, farms will operate on a minimum scale of 1,000 hectares, with investors expected to provide 20 to 30 per cent equity, while financial institutions and Origin Tech will supply the remaining funding.
He further explained that the programme includes technical support for two farming cycles and extended advisory services for up to five cycles to ensure farmers achieve projected yields and sustainable returns.
“If we say it is 10 tonnes per hectare, you achieve that 10 tonnes per hectare,” Samuel said.
He added that the company plans to provide guaranteed markets for farm produce through an aggregation platform known as Bulk Food, which will purchase farm output upon completion of production.
Samuel also linked the initiative to the Federal Government’s renewed focus on agricultural reforms and food security under the Tinubu administration, noting that policy direction from the government has created fresh opportunities for investment in agriculture.
He disclosed that the company is currently working with about 14 states and has secured a land bank of approximately 150,000 hectares that could be deployed for agricultural investment.
According to him, Nigeria’s agricultural sector is valued at more than $143 billion annually, yet a significant portion of the food consumed in the country is still imported.
“Agriculture in Nigeria is a huge business,” he said. “More than a third of what we consume is imported, even though we have enormous potential.”
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Origin Automobile Works, Leo Edwards, identified Nigeria’s low level of mechanised farming as a major constraint to agricultural productivity.
Citing statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Edwards said the global benchmark for effective mechanised farming is 1.5 horsepower per hectare, while Nigeria currently operates at approximately 0.0027 horsepower per hectare.
He said the wide gap highlights the urgent need for mechanisation to improve agricultural efficiency and output.
In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, emphasised the need for Nigeria to embrace large-scale commercial agriculture as a pathway to food security.
She noted that despite having millions of smallholder farmers, the country continues to experience food losses, wastage and supply challenges.
“We have millions of smallholder farmers, yet we continue to see food waste, food loss and insecurity,” Olusanya said.
“It tells you that the model we have adopted must change.”
Stakeholders at the event maintained that a combination of large-scale farming, improved mechanisation, structured financing and guaranteed markets will be critical for Nigeria to achieve sustainable food production and reduce dependence on food imports.