Nigeria Strengthens Joint Data-Driven Agricultural Planning as Farmer Insights Reveal Shifting Production Trends

Joel Ajayi 

Nigeria is strengthening a coordinated, data-driven agricultural planning system as new insights from the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM) reveal shifting production patterns and increasing resilience across the nation’s food system.

At the opening of a three-day NAPM Stakeholders Planning and Validation Workshop in Ado Ekiti, the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) convened federal and state leaders to review the impact of the 2025/2026 Dry Season and align priorities for the upcoming season.

The workshop marks a critical milestone as the NAPM pilot, launched in May 2025 under the

Renewed Hope Agenda, enters its final phase across 13 states, bringing together federal and state MDAs, development partners, and private sector stakeholders within a shared national planning framework.

Speaking at the workshop, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security of Ekiti State, Ebenezer Boluwade, noted that the engagement is focused on accelerating coordinated action to stabilise current challenges and strengthen system resilience, stating:

“The workshop is designed as an opportunity to improve and accelerate our efforts, stabilize existing challenges, strengthen Nigeria’s resilience, and respond effectively to food security issues while building a sustainable system’’

Data validated during the session points to a constrained but improving production landscape. 

While overall land under cultivation fell 36% below intended levels driven largely by capital constraints and rising input costs, productivity per hectare increased across focus crops, reflecting a shift toward more intensive and efficient farming practices.

Maize production saw a notable 14.97% increase, driven by improved practices and a significantexpansion into southern states. In parts of the South-West and South-East, maize accounted for over 70% of dry season cultivation, signalling a clear shift in regional production dynamics.

This shift underscores the importance of aligning production decisions with real demand and delivery outcomes. As noted by the Executive Secretary, 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 also highlights persistent structural constraints, with between 70–76% of farmers identifying access to capital as the primary limitation to production. 

This reinforces the need to connect production insights with financing and input delivery systems to unlock farmer capacity at scale.

Through the NAPM, the Federal Government is advancing a planning approach that starts with the farmer, capturing real production decisions at the field level and builds upward into a single, coordinated national strategy. 

By integrating production, imports, reserves, and exports into a unified food balance, Nigeria is strengthening its ability to ensure food availability, respond more effectively to emerging risks, and build a more resilient food system.