In Abia State’s Isuikwuato and Umuneochi communities, dialogue between agricultural investors and local leaders is helping to build trust, improve coordination, and strengthen community ownership around agricultural activities.

Agriculture is an important source of livelihoods and economic opportunity in the area, particularly for young people. However, insecurity can restrict access to farmland, disrupt production, and affect investments intended to expand these opportunities.

These challenges have affected Von Foods and Farms’ operations along the Isuikwuato–Umuneochi axis, where the company operates farms and works with Youth Outgrower Farmers through the Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) programme. The company reported security concerns involving its workers and farmers, including previous kidnapping incidents and threats affecting access to farmland.

To address these concerns, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, supported a series of engagements under the Community Peacebuilding Initiative for Safe Farm Corridors.

As part of the initiative, a strategic engagement was held in Uturu on 21 August 2026, bringing together traditional rulers, Prevent Council members, Presidents-General, and youth and women leaders from communities across Isuikwuato and Umuneochi, alongside representatives of Von Foods and Farms.

Bringing Community Concerns to the Table

The engagement provided a platform for the communities and Von Foods and Farms to discuss the challenges affecting agricultural activities. While the company highlighted security concerns affecting its workers and Youth Outgrower Farmers, community representatives raised concerns about the level of engagement and communication between the company and the communities.

The discussion underscored the importance of stronger community–company relationships in creating a safer environment for agricultural activities. Traditional leaders recognised the potential benefits of the investment and called for continued community support for Von Foods and Farms. They also encouraged the company to strengthen engagement with traditional rulers and other key community stakeholders when planning or expanding its activities in the area.

Building Consensus Around Agricultural Investment

The dialogue resulted in commitments from both Von Foods and Farms and the participating communities. The company was encouraged to strengthen its engagement with host communities and address concerns related to its activities, while community representatives committed to supporting its operations and creating an enabling environment for its activities.

Traditional leaders also affirmed their willingness to support the company’s presence in their communities. These commitments provided a clearer basis for cooperation between Von Foods and Farms and the communities where it operates.

The engagement also reinforced the role of existing community peacebuilding structures, including the Prevent Council, in facilitating communication, coordination, and early responses to emerging concerns.

From Dialogue to Follow-up Action

The Uturu engagement was part of a broader series of activities under the Safe Farm Corridors initiative. The process began with a peace and security stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia on 18 August, bringing together government representatives, security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, the Prevent Council, and Von Foods and Farms to discuss security concerns affecting agricultural activities.

The Uturu engagement on 21 August brought the discussions to the community level. Further community engagements and capacity-building activities held on 23 and 25 September brought together at-risk youth, community stakeholders, Prevent Council members, security actors and local vigilante representatives. The sessions focused on conflict prevention, early warning, peacebuilding, communication and coordination.

Together, the engagements strengthened community participation and local capacity to address security concerns affecting agricultural activities.

Supporting Safer Agricultural Activity

The Safe Farm Corridors initiative highlights the importance of constructive relationships between agricultural businesses and host communities. Safe access to farmland, open communication, and local coordination can help create a more stable environment for agricultural activities and investment.

For PIND, sustaining these relationships requires continued engagement among businesses, community leaders, young people, security actors, and local peacebuilding structures. Strengthening these connections can help communities and businesses address emerging concerns early and support more sustainable agricultural opportunities in the Niger Delta.