Salami Proposes Farmer Aggregation as Catalyst for Agricultural Growth

Economist and former presidential adviser, Dr. Doyin Salami, has called for a shift from traditional cooperative structures to farmer aggregation models as a means of transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector into a true engine of inclusive growth, food security, and poverty reduction.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Public Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos, themed “Poverty Alleviation, Economic Development & Stability of the Nigerian Economy,” Salami said the structure of smallholder farming in Nigeria where over 80% of farmers operate at subsistence levels must be reimagined through scalable, professionally managed aggregation systems.

“Instead of creating farmer cooperatives, which are often poorly managed or underfunded, we need to develop aggregator networks that act as intermediaries between farmers and critical support systems finance, technology, markets, and training,” Salami said.

He explained that aggregators would shoulder the responsibility of servicing farmers with inputs, accessing credit facilities, and delivering extension services, thereby resolving longstanding bottlenecks in access to capital and market organisation.

“This approach doesn’t just grow crops, it grows capacity,” he added. “It provides a structure that rewards productivity, builds trust in the supply chain, and gives farmers an incentive to grow beyond survival farming.”

Salami also lamented Nigeria’s underutilisation of its natural climatic advantage, noting that the country’s four distinct seasons offer opportunities for year round food supply and export potential, if properly aligned with modern practices and infrastructure investment.