- Nigeria Agriculture in 2024
- Key Farming Issues in Nigeria
- Tinubu’s Agriculture Challenges
Despite promises to prioritize agriculture, Nigeria’s sector faced significant hurdles in 2024. From climate change to high input costs, these challenges have deepened the nation’s food security crisis.
1. Climate Change Impacts:
Extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and delayed rainfall, devastated farmland and displaced over 673,000 people. Floods damaged over 106,000 hectares of farmland, reducing crop yields and worsening food shortages.
2. Rising Costs of Production:
The removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Tinubu led to surging prices for transportation and farm inputs. Fertilizer costs doubled, reaching N46,000 per bag, forcing many farmers, including poultry operators, to halt production.
3. Poor Infrastructure:
Farmers struggled with inadequate road networks, high transport costs, and limited storage facilities. Large quantities of staple foods were wasted, reducing farmer incomes and exacerbating food scarcity.
4. Insecurity and Conflicts:
Attacks on farming communities caused displacement and reduced cultivated land. Insecurity remains a significant barrier to agricultural productivity.
5. Duty-Free Food Imports:
While the government suspended duties on major food imports to curb rising prices, the move had minimal impact due to the naira’s depreciation and persistent inflation.
6. Livestock Ministry Creation:
The establishment of a livestock ministry aimed to address herder-farmer conflicts and boost meat production. However, critics argued it added to government inefficiency.
7. Budgetary Constraints:
With agriculture allocated only 1.3% of the 2025 national budget, far below the 10% Malabo commitment, inefficiencies and underfunding remain key obstacles to growth.
Experts urge investments in climate-smart agriculture, rural infrastructure, and innovative financing to support farmers and enhance food security in 2025.
