Low crop yields expose Nigeria to hunger risk

…From scarcity to surplus: Fixing Nigeria’s food crisis

Low crop yields have left Nigeria susceptible to food insecurity, threatening the nation’s efforts to significantly reduce hunger.

Africa’s most populous nation holds 40 percent of the continent’s arable land, but 33 million of its citizens are facing hunger, according to the UN’s World Food Programme.

Currently, Nigeria’s average yield per hectare remains far below both global and African benchmarks.

Nigeria records the lowest average yield per hectare for key staple crops when compared to regional peers like Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.

For tomatoes, Nigeria averages just seven metric tons (MT) per hectare, while Ghana fares slightly better at 8.6MT. Kenya more than doubles Nigeria’s output with 20MT per hectare, with South Africa standing in a league of its own with a remarkable 86.8MT per hectare.

Maize, the continent’s most widely consumed grain, also shows a stark productivity gap. Nigeria and Kenya both average 1.8MT per hectare. Ethiopia more than doubles that figure with 3.9MT, while South Africa churns out 6.4MT. Egypt typically outpaces most of the continent in maize efficiency.

Potato yields tell a similar story. Nigeria produces 3.7MT per hectare—well below Ethiopia’s 15.1MT and Kenya’s 15.5MT. South Africa again leads by a wide margin, with an average yield of 38.8MT per hectare, underscoring the country’s agricultural advantage.

Why Nigeria has low crop yields

Experts say climate change effects in the form of extreme weather, erratic rainfall and high temperatures are the leading causes of low crop yields.

“Land degradation, poor agricultural practices and wrong use of inputs such as fertiliser are also major reasons for low yields,” said Abubakar Anjorin, a Kaduna State-based farmer.

“If you use poor or low-quality seedlings, which are very common in Nigeria, your crops cannot produce much. In some cases, there is a challenge with poor irrigation, which is also one reason for low crop productivity in Nigeria,” Anjorin, who is also an accountant, noted.

Pillars for high yields

Experts have identified key drivers of high yields, which include access to improved and hybrid seeds and seedlings, widespread adoption of good agricultural practices, and use of technology.

According to them, mechanisation is essential not just for improving efficiency but for boosting yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and attracting a younger, tech-savvy generation willing to invest in farming.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) shows that only one percent of farming in Nigeria is mechanised, with a tractor density of just 0.27 per 1,000 hectares—well below the recommended standard of 1.5 tractors per 1,000 hectares.

Experts say that the adoption of technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite imagery, sensors, data analytics, and precision farming allows farmers to tailor input use based on real-time data.

These, they noted, not only boost yield but cut cost and limit environmental impact.

“I have seen firsthand how precision farming helps impact farmers’ yields,” said Stephen Popoola, founder of Agro Optimizer Limited, in an interview with BusinessDay.

“The 21st-century farmer must go beyond conventional farming methods and adopt precision techniques,” he further said.

“Engaging in better agronomic practices and minimising factors that limit potential yields are essential to boosting outputs of key staples like maize, rice, and wheat,” Popoola emphasised.

Precision farming empowers farmers with tools to monitor variations within their fields, apply inputs with pinpoint accuracy, and forecast yields with greater confidence. The result includes smarter decisions and more resilient food systems.

Adebayo Adeleke, founder of Supply-Chain Africa, underlined the importance of using technology to track the entire food value chain in the country.

“If Nigeria is to move from guesswork to effective food data gathering, we must leverage technology,” he said.

“We need comprehensive food data and state-level food maps to monitor what’s being grown, what is in demand, and where food is being wasted — because you can’t improve what you can’t track,” Adeleke explained.

Also, improved seed varieties are reshaping Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, experts say.

In some regions growing crops such as sorghum and groundnut, the introduction of enhanced seeds has led to yield increases of up to 200 percent, significantly improving productivity and farmer income.

“With improved seeds and seedlings, we can double our yields per hectare for most crops,” said Abiodun Olorondenro, managing partner at Prasinos Farms.

According to reports by Veriv Africa, high-yielding seeds are essential for strong agro-output, but only five percent of smallholder farmers currently have access to them.

Hakeem Ajiegbe, a senior researcher at the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), noted that farmers must adopt best practices to maximise their yields.

Ngozi Odiaka, professor of Agronomy at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now JOSTUM), said: “Farmers who adopt best agronomic practices—like improved seeds, timely planting, and site-specific fertilisation—often double or even triple their yields compared to traditional methods.”