The year 2024 marked a difficult chapter for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, plagued by inflation, severe flooding, and skyrocketing input costs, despite efforts by the federal government to revamp agriculture through new initiatives.
Farmers—both wet season and irrigation practitioners—faced unprecedented challenges stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023. The policy change led to a staggering increase in the cost of inputs. Fertiliser prices soared, with the price of a 50kg bag of Urea rising from ₦16,000 to ₦43,000, while NPK 20:10:10 surged from ₦10,000 to ₦37,000. Certified seeds for crops like rice, maize, and sorghum became prohibitively expensive, forcing many farmers to resort to uncertified alternatives.
The surge in fuel prices—from ₦195 to ₦1,100 per litre—further deepened farmers’ woes. Irrigation farmers, reliant on water-pumping machines, bore the brunt of the crisis. Transportation costs skyrocketed, squeezing farmers’ profit margins and reducing their ability to sustain operations. Similarly, diesel costs hindered access to mechanisation services, weakening productivity among small and medium-scale farmers.
Adding to these woes were climate-induced disasters, including floods and moderate droughts, which destroyed nearly 300,000 hectares of farmland. These events decimated livelihoods and exacerbated food shortages, pushing Nigeria closer to acute food insecurity.
Mixed Outcomes for the Agricultural Sector
Reflecting on 2024, Architect Kabir Ibrahim, President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), described the year as a “mixed bag.” While farmers initially anticipated a bumper harvest, dry spells and near-harvest floods dashed those hopes. “Many farmers lost their livelihoods due to droughts and floods, leading to severe food shortages,” he noted.
Dr. Austine Maduka of the National Agricultural Commodities Projects (NACP) lamented the absence of robust government intervention. High input costs and inflation, coupled with persistent insecurity, prevented many farmers from cultivating their land.
Livestock farmers also faced significant challenges. Feed prices skyrocketed to ₦30,000 per bag, forcing many poultry farms to shut down. The new Ministry of Livestock Development, created in July, brought some optimism. Minister Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha promised reforms, pledging to shift from traditional methods to modern, innovative practices to unlock value chains and attract investments in the sector.
Government Interventions Fall Short
The federal government initiated programs such as the Presidential Wheat Initiative and mechanisation partnerships, but implementation gaps and corruption undermined their effectiveness. Additionally, efforts to lower fertiliser costs through engagement with manufacturers failed, leaving millions of farmers without affordable inputs.
However, initiatives like the National Agricultural Growth Scheme—Accelerated Programme (NAGS-AP) offered some respite. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that approximately 280,000 farmers benefited from subsidies under the 2024-2025 dry season farming initiative.
A Call for Comprehensive Reforms in 2025
Stakeholders urged the government to prioritise agricultural reforms in 2025. Dr. Maduka recommended tackling insecurity, investing in irrigation systems, and fostering an enabling environment for agribusiness. Architect Ibrahim called for transparency in budget implementation and swift repairs of irrigation systems to boost year-round food production.
As Nigeria steps into 2025, farmers hope for better policies and interventions to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural growth. With two ministries now dedicated to agriculture, the sector looks toward a more resilient future.
By Saifullahi Muhammad
