The Nigerian agricultural sector is facing mounting challenges as food insecurity begins to grip the nation tighter. Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, recently underscored the urgency of shifting Nigeria’s agricultural focus from solely feeding its population to generating wealth. Speaking at the 5th Meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum in Maiduguri, he highlighted the importance of innovation and productivity as key drivers to achieving this goal.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the situation is dire, with projections indicating 33 million Nigerians could face food insecurity by 2025, up from 25 million just the previous year. The rise can largely be attributed to rampant inflation and the fallout from extreme climate shocks, corruption, and the enduring impacts of armed conflict, particularly affecting Northern Nigeria.
Recent reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal staggering figures, with food costs surging by 95 percent nationwide, hitting the South East region the hardest. Over the past three months, food prices have seen relentless hikes due to limited land access, low income levels, and high unemployment rates. Coupled with unpredictable weather patterns and conflicts with herdsmen, local food production has drastically declined.
Senator Kyari stated, "We must shift from merely feeding our population to generating wealth through agriculture," emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to improving food production through research, smart agriculture, and climate-resilient seeds. Currently, efforts are underway to distribute over 2.1 million bags of fertilizers to farmers and provide food aid to flood-affected communities.
The problems don’t stop there; one agricultural sub-sector facing epidemic challenges is onion production. The Minister has convened emergency meetings with the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) following alarming forecasts of up to 40 percent shortfall due to the distribution of adulterated seeds. Fortunately, swift action by NOPPMAN identified the supplier of these substandard seeds, prompting immediate accountability measures including involvement from the Department of State Services (DSS).
With onion farming already representing about 4.3 percent of global production, totaling nearly 245,000 tons in 2020, proactive measures will be pivotal to solidifying Nigeria's position as one of the world's leading producers. Old notions of profitability and sustainability need revision, and Senator Kyari’s approach has begun to draw substantial attention from various factions within the agrarian community.
Meanwhile, the food crisis looms particularly large over the South East region, known for its challenges compounded by rising food costs and systemic agricultural failures. Local experts point to Anambra State, which encompasses approximately 4,844 square kilometers of arable land, as potentially fertile ground for reversing this alarming trend. Analysts state, "The state has potential to be a major producer of crops such as oil palms, maize, rice, yams, and cassava," based on its rich soil and favorable climate.
To tackle the food crisis comprehensively, experts suggest multi-faceted approaches ranging from urban agriculture initiatives to aquaculture development, capable of transforming the region's capacity to produce adequate food. For example, establishing farm clusters could allow smallholder farmers to pool resources, share knowledge, and improve efficiencies. Strategically, irrigation systems could be developed to alleviate reliance on fluctuative rainfall patterns.
Crucially, agricultural modernization—by introducing precision-agriculture technologies, efficient irrigation practices, and encouraging crop diversification—remains imperative to improving local yields and combating climate change impacts. This blend of traditional practices and innovative technology is poised to yield economic benefits and bolster food security.
Particularly telling is how Anambra can draw lessons from Israel's agricultural successes. Through innovative techniques such as dripping irrigation and greenhouse farming, Israel has managed to optimize food production efficiency. These technologies could be adapted to local practices to reduce dependency on erratic weather patterns.
Finally, engaging the youth sector is key to revitalizing agriculture. With appropriate training and mentorship, younger generations could bring fresh ideas to the table. Kyari remains optimistic about initiating frameworks to support smallholder farmers and empower new entrants within the field. The challenges are considerable, but with concerted efforts and innovative thinking, Nigeria's agriculture sector is on the cusp of transformative change.