Nigeria Advances Data-Driven Agriculture as New Insights Reveal Changing Production Trends

Nigeria is reinforcing a coordinated, data-driven agricultural planning system following new insights from the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), which indicate shifting production patterns and growing resilience within the nation’s food system.

At the commencement of a three-day NAPM Stakeholders Planning and Validation Workshop held in Ado Ekiti, the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) brought together federal and state leaders to assess the outcomes of the 2025/2026 Dry Season and harmonise priorities for the upcoming farming cycle.

The workshop represents a significant milestone as the NAPM pilot programme—launched in May 2025 under the Renewed Hope Agenda—moves into its final phase across 13 states. The initiative integrates federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, and private sector actors into a unified national planning framework.

Speaking during the session, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, explained that the engagement is aimed at fast-tracking coordinated actions to address existing challenges while strengthening the agricultural system.
“The workshop is designed as an opportunity to improve and accelerate our efforts, stabilise existing challenges, strengthen Nigeria’s resilience, and respond effectively to food security issues while building a sustainable system,” he said.
Data validated at the workshop reveals a production environment that, though constrained, is showing signs of improvement. Total land under cultivation declined by 36 percent compared to projected levels, largely due to limited capital and increasing input costs. However, productivity per hectare rose across key crops, indicating a transition toward more intensive and efficient farming methods.
Maize production recorded a notable growth of 14.97 percent, driven by improved farming practices and significant expansion into southern regions. In parts of the South-West and South-East, maize accounted for over 70 percent of dry season farming activities, reflecting a clear shift in regional production trends.
These developments highlight the need to align production planning with actual demand and delivery outcomes. As emphasised by the Executive Secretary of NADF:

“The farmer in Ekiti, Borno, or Benue does not care which agency delivers. They care that food is available, affordable, and produced sustainably.”
The assessment further identifies ongoing structural challenges, with about 70–76 percent of farmers citing limited access to capital as the major constraint to production. This underscores the importance of linking production data with financing mechanisms and input supply systems to fully unlock farmers’ potential at scale.

Through the NAPM initiative, the Federal Government is promoting a bottom-up planning model that begins with real-time farmer decisions at the field level and builds into a cohesive national strategy. By integrating production, imports, reserves, and exports into a single food balance framework, Nigeria is enhancing its capacity to ensure food availability, respond promptly to emerging risks, and strengthen overall food system resilience.
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