By Our Editorial Team
Chairman of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria, FACAN, and Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative, NAADI, in Etinan Local Government Area, Mr. Udeme Mbek, has described the FACAN-NAADI platform as the umbrella body for all categories of farmers operating within Etinan LGA and environs, comprising large-scale and smallholder farmers.
Mr. Mbek stated this in an interview with our Editorial Team in Etinan on Tuesday, ahead of the 5th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference tagged Uyo 2026, scheduled to hold from October 25 to 28, 2026, at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Uyo.
According to him, FACAN-NAADI was established to unify the voices of farmers, commodity associations and agribusiness operators to engage government, development partners and private sector players on policies and programmes that affect agricultural development.
“FACAN-NAADI is the umbrella body for large-scale, smallholder farmers. Whether you are producing one hectare of cassava or you are managing 100 hectares of oil palm, whether you are into fish farming, poultry, rice or vegetables, this is your platform. We bring everyone together to speak with one voice,” Mbek said.
He explained that the structure of the organization runs from the national level to state, zonal and local government chapters, making it easy for grassroots farmers to be part of national agricultural conversations and benefit from interventions.
Mbek noted that in Etinan LGA, the chapter has been working to mobilize farmers, cooperatives and commodity associations to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the agribusiness space, particularly under the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
“For us in Etinan, we have been mobilizing our people to understand that farming is no longer subsistence. It is business. We have fertile land for cassava, oil palm, plantain and vegetables. What we needed was a platform that can link our farmers to finance, improved inputs, markets and technology, and FACAN-NAADI is providing that link,” he said.
Speaking on the forthcoming Uyo 2026 conference, the Etinan FACAN-NAADI Chairman said the international conference presents a rare opportunity for farmers in the state to directly interface with policymakers, investors and international development agencies.
He said his members are excited that Akwa Ibom was chosen to host the 5th edition of the conference and that the state will be welcoming delegates from across Nigeria and abroad.
“Our members are fully ready for Uyo 2026. We have been sensitizing them to attend, exhibit their products and participate in business-to-business meetings. This conference will allow our local farmers to see what is possible in value addition and processing,” Mbek stated.
He added that the theme of the conference, “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity,” resonates deeply with the challenges farmers face in the local government area, especially post-harvest losses and lack of access to markets.
“We lose so much after harvest because we do not process. If you harvest cassava in Etinan today and you cannot process it into garri or starch immediately, you have lost money. That is why we need to unlock value chains. That is what this conference is about,” he said.
Mbek commended the Convener of the conference and South-South Zonal Coordinator of NAADI, Dr. Howard Usen, for his commitment to agribusiness development in the region, and also lauded the Akwa Ibom State Government for its support through the Agribusiness Unit.
He appealed to farmers in Etinan and across Akwa Ibom to register and participate fully in the conference, describing it as a gateway to transforming their farming operations into profitable agribusiness enterprises.
He assured that FACAN-NAADI in Etinan will continue to serve as a bridge between government programmes and the real farmers at the grassroots, ensuring that no farmer is left behind in the state’s agricultural revolution.