Nigeria’s agricultural sector has recorded steady growth in its crop output, particularly in key staples such as rice, maize, cassava, and sorghum, according to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi.
Speaking in Abuja during a ministerial news conference to mark the 2025 World Food Day, Abdullahi said the country’s 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Survey has confirmed increased yields across major crops compared to 2024.
He attributed the growth to expanded farmlands, improved farming practices, and farmer resilience, noting that the progress has strengthened national food security and supported ongoing agro-industrial value chains.
“These gains have reinforced food security and sustained agro-industrial value chains,” the minister said.
Abdullahi disclosed that the Federal Government has launched a Dry Season Initiative to promote all-year-round farming on 500,000 hectares of land.
The first phase focuses on wheat production in 15 states, while the second phase targets the cultivation of rice, maize, and cassava.
According to the minister, the initiative is designed to boost local production, reduce import dependence, and enhance food availability during the off-season.
Abdullahi highlighted Nigeria’s broader agricultural reforms and said the government is scaling up the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other development partners.
The five-year programme, now in its first phase, covers Kaduna, Cross River, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the FCT, with implementation already underway in Kaduna and Cross River since April 2025.
He noted that the initiative aims to boost agricultural output by over 60 per cent, cut post-harvest losses by 80 per cent, promote value addition, create jobs, and expand market access.
“Through the SAPZ project, Nigeria aims to accelerate its shift towards an agro-industrial economy and support broader national diversification efforts,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi also announced plans to strengthen the National Strategic Food Reserve, to ensure the stockpiling of essential commodities to stabilise prices and protect consumers.
He explained that the initiative would help mitigate crises caused by food shortages, reduce import reliance, and ensure a steady food supply throughout the year.
“This measure will help prevent crises arising from acute food shortages and reduce dependence on imports,” the minister added.
In a related development, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, said the newly established Livestock Ministry was created to transform the sub-sector into a modern and economically viable industry.
“We are here to synergise and partner with the Ministry of Agriculture because our efforts are complementary,” Maiha said.
During the event, farm inputs such as sprayers, organic fertilisers, and water pumps were distributed to women farmers’ associations, youth farming clubs, and cooperatives, in a bid to support productivity and inclusion in the sector further.
Source: NAN
Image Credit: Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security
