Nigeria is pushing a new idea for its countryside, turning working farms into destinations that tourists pay to visit. The Federal Government says agrotourism will unlock the full potential of rural economies by blending agriculture with tourism to create jobs, ensure food security and attract investment, an approach the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, set out at the International Agrotourism Investment Stakeholders' Forum in Abuja, according to Vanguard.
A Flagship Village Near Abuja
The centrepiece is a physical project. The government unveiled the Nigerian International Agritourism Village for development on a 40-hectare site at Karshi South in the Federal Capital Territory, according to Per Second News. Kyari, represented at the forum by the ministry's Director of Agribusiness and Market Development, Ayodele Olawumi, said the initiative was designed to translate government policy into tangible benefits for farmers, entrepreneurs and rural communities, the same report noted. Preparatory work is already advanced, with a federal ministry delegation having inspected the Karshi site alongside the World Agritourism Organisation, according to Blueprint.
A Network Across Every State
The Abuja village is meant to be the first of many. The promoters have set out plans for Agritourism Village projects across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside a World Agritourism Centre and an annual World Agritourism Day to be marked every May 16, according to The Authority. The concept is not entirely new to Nigeria, as a pilot agrotourism village combining agriculture, tourism, recreation and youth training was launched in Ibarapa East in Oyo State, according to Voice of Nigeria.
Why the Government Is Interested
The appeal for policymakers is that one project promises several wins at once. Kyari said agrotourism would diversify rural incomes, reduce dependence on oil and showcase Nigeria's cultural heritage, scenery and farming practices to the world, according to Vanguard. The World Agritourism Organisation argues the model would raise farmers' incomes, create sustainable jobs, slow rural-urban migration, empower women and youths and strengthen food security, while attracting public-private investment and lifting government revenue, according to The Authority. The government frames the plan as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda's drive to turn policy into concrete gains for communities, according to Per Second News.
Anything that keeps more value on the farm and draws investment into rural supply chains can, over time, steady the flow of food to the cities. FoodPrices Nigeria tracks verified retail prices across Lagos markets, the practical test of whether rural investment reaches the plate.