Farouk Gumel - Pushing Nigeria’s Biggest Agriculture sector to its limits - Agriculture
                     Pushing Nigeria’s 
Biggest sector to 
its limits - 
Agriculture
Farouk Gumel, Nigeria
Farouk Gumel- Finally, agriculture is 
taking its rightful place as the sector that 
will take Nigerians out of poverty and 
into an era of inclusive and collective 
prosperity. Although the sector employs 
millions of Nigerians and accounts for an 
estimated 20% of the country’s GDP, 
many still view supporting agriculture as 
a charitable act as opposed to a business 
venture. This is the simple reason why 
many farmers in this sector are classified 
as “under employed” due to their mere 
inability to grow beyond the subsistence 
level.
Nigeria is blessed as we have the potential to excel in 
all the key sub-sectors of agriculture. We have the land 
and forests for farming and grazing. We have the water 
(sea, lakes and rivers) for fishing and aquaculture. We 
have the capacity and the climate for livestock and 
poultry production. And of course, we have the 
manpower to get all this done.
Therefore, it is extremely exciting for all of us 
to see significant investments going into this 
sector. We are witnessing a gradual but 
consistent increase in the production of 
cassava, yams, maize, paddy, millet, fish and 
poultry products. Our non-oil exports have 
also increased especially in cocoa, cashew 
and sesame seeds.
This is all because Nigeria finally has alignment in 
its fiscal, monetary and trade framework when it 
comes to agriculture. Due to this, we are moving 
away from the days of handing out fertiliser and 
seeds to an era of providing loans to farmers and 
tax incentives to investors in food processing and 
logistics.
Many organisations have bought into this new policy 
direction. One of them is TGI Group who in the last five 
years have commissioned a rice mill, a multi seed oil 
crushing facility and a seasoning cubes factory. They 
have also invested significantly in outgrower farming 
and farmer extension networks.
Farouk Gumel, an Executive Director at TGI states 
“With an inclusive agricultural policy, Africa can 
feed itself and create millions of Jobs”. Farouk 
Gumel added “the fact that the majority of 
Nigerians earn their livelihoods through agriculture 
means the recent policy push will positively impact 
millions”.
Farouk Gumel said TGI Group is already investing 
millions of dollars in out grower farming programs for 
rice paddy, soya beans and maize in Nigeria.  Farouk 
Gumel concludes that “TGI’s projects will bring with it a 
lot of opportunities for the people of Nigeria especially in 
the rural areas. We hope as these investments mature, 
they will bring peace and prosperity to millions of 
people”.
Farouk Gumel
Group Executive Director and Head of Agri-
Businesses for Tropical General Investment 
(TGI) Group.
THANK YOU!!