- How insecurity hinders farmers’ access to lands, markets, undermines food availability
Apart from highlighting the prominent role food inflation rate plays in the soaring inflation facing the country, the National Bureau of Statistics in its Nigeria General Household Survey-Panel (Wave 5) 2023/2024 released recently has further highlighted the inefficiencies bedeviling the agriculture sector. FESTUS OKOROMADU, in this report reviews the stakeholders’ perspectives to the food insecurity crisis facing the country.
The National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s data repository agency mandated with the responsibility of data collection, recently released a report titled, “Nigeria General Household Survey-Panel (Wave 5) 2023/2024.” The report which focused on tracking Nigerian households to understand their resilience over time, revealed that that many Nigerian households depend on agriculture for their livelihood, stating that, “Farming activities were the predominant labour activities for both males (51.8 percent) and females (34.6 percent) in the post-planting visit.”
Further analysis shows that, “During the post-harvest visit, agricultural activity was the leading activity for males (34.7 percent), while engagement in nonfarm enterprises topped the list for females (31.3 percent). The number of hours per week spent in work activities was higher during the post-harvest visit (33.6 hours) than the post-planting visit (26.3 hours) for people currently working.”
According to the NBS, the survey’s agriculture modules cover crop farming and livestock rearing. The results, the report stated, show that approximately seven out of 10 households are engaged in crop farming, and 42.8 percent are engaged in livestock activities.
On access to agricultural activities which are anchored on land possession and the processes engaged, it stated, “Regarding land tenure, Nigerian households hold an average of 2.4 plots of land with an average plot size of 0.5 hectares. The most common means of acquiring land is through family inheritance; 64.9 percent of male-managed plots and 59.7 percent of female-managed plots were acquired in this way.
“Inorganic fertilizer, herbicides, and organic fertilizers are applied on approximately 30.6 percent, 32.6 percent, and 26.2 percent of plots, respectively. Other farming inputs such as animals for traction and equipment machines were used in 17.4 percent and 8.7 percent of plots, respectively.
“Nationally, male household labour was used in 89.8 percent of cultivated plots, while female household labour was supplied to 63.2 percent of cultivated plots, and children under 15 years of age worked on 41.6 percent of cultivated plots.
“Participants at the Abuja FarmFatech Expo 2024 noted that despite several initiatives by the Nigerian government to implement programmes aimed at improving agriculture, through support to peasant farmers, most of them have failed due to various reasons”
“More than four out of 10 crop-farming households grew cassava and maize, making these the most popular crops cultivated in the country. The data indicate that the most common livestock owned by households are sheep, goats, or pigs (68.0 percent). Only 24.4 percent of farming households reported having received extension services, with the most common topics being new seed varieties (16.9 percent), fertilizer use (12.8 percent), and pest control (9.9 percent).”
Scarcity amid plenty
However, despite the statistical evidence that Nigeria is endowed with vast natural human and natural potentials to dominate Africa’s food production market, the report confirms the dangerous presence of food security in the country.
According to the report, “Approximately two out of three households (65.8 percent) reported being unable to eat healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days. 63.8 percent of households ate only a few kinds of food due to lack of money; 62.4 percent were worried about not having enough food to eat, and 60.5 percent ate less than they thought they should.
“Furthermore, 12.3 percent reported that at least one person in the household went without eating for a whole day, and 20.8 percent of households had to borrow food or rely on help from friends or relatives.”
Thus, confirming other reports that point to the sad fact that although agriculture contributes about 23 percent of Nigeria’s Gross domestic products (GDP), food insecurity remains a critical issue, with 170 million Nigerians experiencing moderate and severe food insecurity in 2023.
As rightly pointed out by the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismark Rewane, the stark contrast between resource endowment and food poverty highlights systemic inefficiencies and the impact of external factors such as climate change, conflicts, and inflation.
Emphasising the role of low productivity as an albatross of food insecurity, Rewane said, “Although Nigeria has the 7th largest agricultural land globally, it has the highest number of people who are moderately and severely food insecure. This scarcity amid plenty is bookended by low agricultural yield per hectare. Nigeria’s yield per hectare is about 56 percent lower than its potential.”
He noted that one of the major causes of low yields in Nigeria is overreliance on peasant farming.
“Peasant farming is characterized by small-scale, subsistence agriculture, often resulting in lower yields. These farmers typically lack the financial resources to invest in modern inputs and technologies, thereby limiting the potential for scaling up agricultural production to meet the growing demand for food.”
He added that although Nigeria has more farmers than most of its peers, it also has more people who are food-poor.
Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis
Speaking to the challenges facing the food production value chain in Nigeria at just concluded, FarmFatech, Farm, Food and Allied Technology Expo 2024, in Abuja, the President Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Emeka Obegolu, stated that the country is facing many crises that significantly disrupt food production, supply chains, and affordability, culminating in increased food shortages and malnutrition.
He stated that external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and domestic challenges like insecurity, climate change, and macroeconomic instability have compounded the nation’s vulnerability.
He added that the heightened security challenges, particularly in the North East, have severely impacted agricultural activities.
Meanwhile, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition has estimated that around 2.13 million farmers have been displaced in the North East region alone.
The reports indicate that approximately 100,000 individuals have been killed by non-state actors since 2012, further destabilizing the agricultural sector.
It stressed that “This insecurity hinders farmers’ access to lands and markets, critically undermining food availability.”
The report further stated that, “Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have further strained food systems. Nigeria experiences extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, leading to crop failures and reduced yields. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these vulnerabilities, with lockdowns and movement restrictions disrupting agricultural activities and supply chains, causing food shortages and price hikes.
“Macroeconomic instability has also severely impacted food affordability. Nigeria’s headline inflation has consistently exceeded the central bank’s target, reaching 33.9% in October 2024, with food inflation at nearly 40%. This inflationary pressure, driven by massive currency depreciation, erodes individuals’ purchasing power, making food less affordable for many households. The naira depreciated by over 50% in 2023 and over 40% in 2024, with exchange rate volatility affecting imported and domestic food prices.”
“The United Nations has predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, calling on the government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity”
The needs for a strategic shift in food production
Participants at the Abuja FarmFatech Expo 2024 noted that despite several initiatives by the Nigerian government to implement programmes aimed at improving agriculture, through support to peasant farmers, most of them have failed due to various reasons.
The forum therefore emphasized the need to shift from a food-poor economy to a food-rich economy, stressing that for Nigeria’s agricultural sector to play the dominant role of eliminating poverty, it must transition from peasant farming to commercial and mechanized farming.
While emphasizing the point that peasant farming cannot meet the demands of a growing population or compete in the global market, the forum stated that, “The shift to commercial and mechanized farming is essential for Nigeria to achieve sustainable agricultural development. It will increase food production and enhance the country’s resilience against external shocks, improve rural livelihoods, and reduce poverty. This transformation is vital for a food-secure future in Nigeria.”
Citing example of the Iranian agricultural reform, which was part of the White Revolution or the Shah’s Revolution, Rewane in one of his recent publications stated that, The Iranian reform programme, initiated in 1963 by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, included significant measures such as land redistribution, mechanization, and the promotion of commercial farming. Iran’s shift from traditional farming to commercial and mechanized agriculture has significantly improved crop yields.”
He added that the prevalence of severe food insecurity in Iran has dropped from 20.2 percent in 2000 to 6 percent in 2023.
“Nigeria must prioritize an agricultural development strategy that promotes commercial agriculture through targeted reforms,” he submitted.
Government’s initiatives to fund agriculture
One key issue that dominated discussion at the Abuja FarmFatech Expo 2024 was access to funding.
In what seems like a response to their demands, the Federal Government last week announced that it has secured a loan facility of $134 million from the African Development Bank to help farmers boost seeds and green production in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this while flagging off the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to him, the initiative is under the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project.
He stated that the Federal Government had declared an emergency on food production to enable all Nigerians to get easy access to quality and nutritional food at affordable rates.
He revealed that the government wants to use the agricultural sector for national economic revival through an increase in production of some staple food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava during both dry and wet season farming.
Kyari disclosed that 107,429 wheat farmers have been supported under phase 1 of the 2023/2024 dry season, 43,997 rice farmers under the second phase of the 2023/2024 dry season and recently 192,095 rice, maize, sorghum/millet, soyabean and cassava farmers under the 2024 wet season across the 36 States and the FCT.
He noted that Cross River is leading 16 other states in wheat production, adding that over 3000 wheat farmers have been listed to benefit from the support to grow the grain.
The minister recognized the Cross River government’s commitment to wheat production, saying it informed why the Federal Government was partnering with the state to kick start the maiden wheat production and enlisting them among states commencing from this current 2024/2025 dry season farming.
“For the 2024/2025 dry season farming, the project is targeted to support 250,000 wheat farmers across the wheat-producing states with subsidized agricultural inputs to cultivate about 250,000 hectares with an expected output of about 750,000 metric tons of wheat to be added to the food reserve to reduce dependence on importation of the product and also increase domestic consumption.
“Equally the programme will provide support to 150,000 rice farmers under the second phase to cover all the 37 states, including FCT, with an expected output of about 450,000 metric tons.”
In another development, the Minister last Thursday officially opened a cutting-edge Fish Hatchery Facility with the capacity to produce 20 million juvenile fish per year in Calabar.
The facility which features a fully equipped laboratory, and classroom for training and as well serve as research center was established by the federal government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), with contributions from the Cross River government and the USAID Feed the Future Project, among other private sector partners.
Speaking at the event, Kyari noted that the facility would not only enhance food security in the country but also act as a center for job creation and income opportunities for youth and women involved in aquaculture.
82 million Nigerians may go hungry due to food crisis – UN warns
The United Nations has predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, calling on the government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.
Historically, food inflation in Nigeria has averaged 13.42 per cent, with the lowest point of -17.50 per cent in January 2000.
In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation predicted that no fewer than 2.6 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara States, and the FCT may face a food crisis between June and August 2024.
According to a government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March, 2024, approximately 4.8 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States are experiencing severe food insecurity, the highest level in seven years.
Speaking recently at the launch of CropWatch in Abuja, the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, represented by one of the UN officials, Taofiq Braimoh, said, “The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey. This year’s results are alarming: approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2023, and around 80-82 million are at risk of severe food insecurity by 2030.
“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. As an agrarian society, our farms’ success directly impacts food availability for our population. Leveraging technology is crucial to strengthening our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.”
He stressed that satellite-based crop monitoring provided real-time data on crop conditions, enabling farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions and optimise agricultural practices.
He noted that the technology could help expedite the accomplishment of sustainable development goals in food and agriculture.
An agricultural economist from the Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Tobi Awolope, attributed the high hunger rate in Nigeria to climate change, which has severely affected smallholder farmers, the main players in food production.
Awolope noted that those farmers had a low adaptive capacity to cope with the effects of climate change, such as irregular rainfall patterns and lack of irrigation.
“Climate change has reversed the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, which aim to eradicate poverty and hunger. Smallholder farmers are struggling to adapt to the changing climate, and this has led to declining food availability and rising prices,” she said.
She emphasised the need for government support for farmers, including subsidising production inputs, and providing technology and irrigation assistance.
“Farmers cannot mitigate the effects of climate change alone. The government needs to step in and support them to ensure food security,” she stated.
Awolope also stressed the importance of utilising research recommendations to inform policy decisions, saying, “This is not the time to leave research output on the shelf. We need to use those recommendations to make informed decisions that will support our farmers and ensure food availability.”
The National Secretary of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Yinusu Alidu, said the UN report should be taken seriously, noting that it reflects the real situation in the country.
He said, “What the UN said is trending at the moment, because it reflects the real situation in the country. It is not magic; the UN is only gathering reports, and speaking to the current situation. They are using global warming, climate change, insecurity, and other factors to make the report. People like us on the field know already that the UN’s report is becoming real.
Also speaking, the President of Integrated Agricultural Services, South West, Adeyemi Adejare, described the UN’s report as a pointer to the government’s failures in supporting agriculture and farmers.
Adejare said Nigeria was already witnessing a shortage of food; saying only aggressive farming could help Nigeria out of the crisis.
He said, “The only way to avert the UN’s prediction is to engage in aggressive farming, and get genuine support from the government. Nigeria is facing food insecurity already, so we can’t shy away from what the UN said. It is a pointer to the government’s failure to support agriculture.
“The food industries and our farming system must reach a sustainable level to avert the prediction, and that requires a holistic approach. We need to discard the old farming, storing, and processing systems. Governments at all levels must be genuinely committed to promoting agriculture.
“The government must empower farmers and encourage mechanised farming for the youth. The government must also provide soft loans and subsidies farming implements for genuine farmers.”
Adejare noted that the UN report was correct, adding that the nation must take proactive actions to end food insecurity.
He said, “The UN report is correct. Currently, it will take Nigeria 30 uninterrupted farming and harvesting seasons to achieve food security, because of the shortage we have already.
“The government has not been fair to farmers. The northern farmers are enjoying little benefits from the government, but the South West governors are not helping the farmers at all. The governors have not been helpful; they have been paying lip service to the promotion of agriculture.”