Agripreneur Calls for Greater Investment in Oil Palm, Women Farmers to Strengthen Nigeria’s Food Security

Agripreneur Calls for Greater Investment in Oil Palm, Women Farmers to Strengthen Nigeria’s Food Security

A leading agripreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Babaeko Farms, Mrs. Folashade Ayeni, has reiterated her commitment to advancing food security in Nigeria through large-scale agriculture, describing oil palm cultivation as one of the country’s biggest untapped opportunities for economic growth, job creation and import substitution.

Speaking on her agricultural journey, Ayeni said her passion for farming is driven by a desire to combat hunger and poverty while creating sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.

According to her, agriculture remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming Nigeria’s economy, stressing that beyond being a business venture, farming represents a long-term solution to improving food availability and reducing unemployment.

Ayeni, who operates a 50-hectare farm in Kakun, Kogi State, said her agribusiness focuses on sustainable production, with oil palm serving as its flagship crop due to its enormous economic and industrial value.

She observed that although Nigeria was once among the world’s leading producers of palm oil, the country now relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, a situation she believes can be reversed through deliberate investment in plantation development and modern processing facilities.

According to her, expanding local oil palm production would not only reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported palm oil but also generate employment across the agricultural value chain while increasing foreign exchange earnings through exports.

The agripreneur also highlighted the role of cooperatives in rural development following her recent appointment as Chairman of the Durotoluwa Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

She explained that strong cooperatives enable smallholder farmers to access quality farm inputs, affordable financing, extension services and better markets, ultimately improving productivity and farmers’ incomes.

Ayeni noted that empowering cooperatives remains one of the fastest ways to strengthen agricultural production at the grassroots.

She also advocated greater recognition of women in agriculture, describing female farmers as the backbone of food production in many Nigerian communities.

According to her, despite their enormous contribution to farming activities, many women continue to face challenges accessing land, finance, technology and leadership opportunities.

She maintained that improving women’s participation in agriculture would significantly enhance national food security while encouraging more young women to pursue careers in agribusiness.

Reflecting on her recent agricultural study visit to Zambia, Ayeni said the experience exposed her to practical farming models capable of transforming Nigerian agriculture.

She cited efficient irrigation systems, mechanised farming, effective cooperative management, proper farm record keeping and aggregation centres linking farmers directly to processors as some of the successful practices observed during the visit.

According to her, these achievements were not driven by extraordinary circumstances but by consistent investment, organisation and sound agricultural policies.

Ayeni expressed confidence that similar models could be successfully implemented in Kogi State and across Nigeria, given the country’s vast arable land, favourable climate and abundant water resources.

She stressed that with stronger government support, improved infrastructure and increased private-sector investment, states like Kogi could become major agricultural production hubs for crops such as oil palm, cassava, maize and rice.

Describing food security as an essential component of national security, Ayeni warned that countries unable to feed their populations remain vulnerable to economic instability and social challenges.

She called on governments at all levels to provide farmers with practical support through affordable credit, access to improved inputs, extension services and land reforms capable of stimulating agricultural expansion.

The Babaeko Farms CEO also encouraged investors to explore opportunities within Nigeria’s oil palm value chain, noting that significant investment potential exists in plantation development, processing, storage and value addition.

She added that growing domestic demand for palm oil presents attractive opportunities for businesses willing to invest in the sector.

Addressing Nigerian youths, particularly young women, Ayeni urged them to view agriculture as a modern, profitable and technology-driven industry rather than a last-resort occupation.

She encouraged aspiring agripreneurs to embrace innovation, continuous learning and patience while taking advantage of emerging opportunities throughout the agricultural value chain.

According to her, meaningful agricultural transformation will only occur when individuals move beyond discussions and begin implementing practical solutions capable of addressing hunger, unemployment and rural poverty.

Commodity.ng Insight

Nigeria’s oil palm industry holds enormous potential to reduce import dependence, increase export earnings and create thousands of jobs across farming, processing and manufacturing. Yet decades of underinvestment, ageing plantations and limited access to improved planting materials have constrained production despite growing domestic demand.

Beyond oil palm, Ayeni’s emphasis on women farmers and functional cooperatives reflects two critical pillars for strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Expanding access to finance, mechanisation, extension services and organised markets for women and smallholder farmers could significantly improve productivity and rural incomes.

As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and strengthen food security, sustained investment in high-value crops such as oil palm, alongside stronger farmer cooperatives and inclusive agricultural policies, will be essential to unlocking the country’s full agricultural potential.