Food Security in Nigeria: Understanding the Issues

Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, faces a pressing food security crisis. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately 25.3% of Nigeria’s population is undernourished. With a rapidly growing population projected to surpass 400 million by 2050, the World Bank estimates that agricultural production must increase by at least 70% to meet rising food demands. Yet, despite its fertile land and a predominantly agrarian economy, Nigeria struggles with food insecurity.

Picture this: a smallholder farmer in Nasarawa State who has to watch helplessly as her cassava harvest rots because there are no nearby processing facilities, or a rice farmer in Benue State using low-quality seeds, resulting in poor yields and financial loss. These are not isolated incidents but the daily realities for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, who produce over 80% of Nigeria’s food, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable agricultural solutions.

Speaking to our Farmers’ Hubs managers in Benue, Nasarawa, and Abuja states, who interface with over 5,000 smallholder farmers in their communities, reveals first-hand the challenges undermining Nigeria’s food security, highlighting the structural and systemic challenges that threaten Nigeria’s food system. These challenges include insufficient agricultural inputs, limited access to financial resources, post-harvest losses, and inadequate infrastructure.

Challenges to Food Security in Nigeria

Smallholder farmers in Nigeria face significant difficulties accessing critical agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and high-quality seeds. These inputs are either too expensive or unavailable due to access problems, limiting farmers’ ability to increase productivity.

“Some farmers tell me they have large farms but can’t cultivate. They need support with access to fertiliser, chemicals, and mechanised equipment to farm on a larger scale,” Theresa Markus, the Manager of the Farmers’ Hub in Nasarawa-Eggon, Nasarawa State, explains.

Post-harvest losses are another pressing issue, with up to 30-40% of total production in Nigeria lost, particularly for perishable crops like cassava and vegetables. The absence of adequate processing facilities forces farmers to sell their produce at low prices or risk spoilage. For instance, in Benue State, freshly harvested paddy rice often attracts aflatoxins if not milled immediately. Terry Ligom, Hub Manager of the Gboko Farmers’ Hub in Benue State, sheds light on the challenges:

“When cassava is harvested, farmers often have to sell it at low prices because there’s no processing plant to turn it into a finished product. Waterlogged soil exacerbates this, causing rot if the cassava isn’t processed in time. A cassava processing machine would allow farmers to get better value for their produce.”

Similarly, for rice farmers, a lack of processing infrastructure leads to quality degradation. “Freshly harvested paddy rice can’t just be stored—it needs to be milled. Without proper milling, it attracts aflatoxins and becomes dangerous for consumption. Milling facilities would also extend the shelf life and value of these crops,” Terry adds.

The lack of infrastructure, including power, water, and reliable road networks, significantly hampers agricultural productivity. Power outages disrupt operations like rice milling, leading to financial losses and inefficiencies. In Doma, Nasarawa State, Hub Manager Doma Jibrin Bala recounts:

“We rely on the national grid, which keeps failing. I lose man-hours daily, unable to mill rice for customers. I am supposed to be milling rice right now, but there’s no electricity. Alternative energy solutions, like solar or generators, are essential for continuity.”

Doma further adds that water scarcity compounds this challenge. “Boiling rice for parboiling and processing requires water, but we don’t have a reliable source. We need a borehole and storage tanks to maintain a consistent supply.”

Sadly, these inputs and infrastructure cost a fortune to acquire, which segues to financial challenges that threaten food security in Nigeria.

Financial constraints pose a significant challenge. Farmers struggle to access affordable loans and structured financial services, which limits their ability to invest in critical farming inputs and infrastructure or adopt modern agricultural practices. Often, they turn to informal arrangements (informal credit or personal savings), which are unsustainable and leave them vulnerable.

Theresa Markus further explains:
“Farmers approach me asking for loans to buy seeds or chemicals, promising to repay after harvest. Structured financial support systems would enable them to farm at scale without this constant uncertainty.”

Lastly, the use of low-quality seeds has a cascading impact on agricultural productivity. Without access to high-yield and disease-resistant seed varieties, farmers are unable to maximise their yields. This issue affects not only their incomes but also the operations of processing facilities. As Doma Jibrin Bala, who manages a rice milling plant, highlights:

“The seeds farmers use here result in low yields, which means there’s not enough produce to run our milling facility at full capacity. Providing high-quality seedlings would change this.”

These systemic challenges—ranging from input shortages and infrastructure deficits to financial barriers—paint a vivid picture of the uphill battle Nigerian farmers, who produce the bulk of the country’s food, face in ensuring food security. Addressing these issues is essential to fostering a resilient agricultural sector capable of feeding the nation.

Our next article will explore solutions to the food security challenges in Nigeria, highlighting the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions’ contributions to addressing these challenges.