Boosting staple production and resilience

The programme seeks to expand staple crop production using climate-resilient, high-yield seed varieties and tailored fertiliser blends. It will also scale up access to crop insurance to protect farmers from climate-related shocks.

Key production targets include:

• A fivefold increase in wheat output
• A 20% rise in rice production

The broader objective is to strengthen food self-sufficiency, reduce import dependence and improve farmer incomes, while encouraging youth participation in commercially oriented agriculture.

Abdul Kamara, Director General of the African Development Bank for Nigeria, said Phase 2 builds on lessons from the first phase by expanding access to quality inputs, digital tools and climate-smart technologies.

Phase 1 results

The first phase introduced an ICT-based distribution system that delivered seeds, fertilisers and pesticides through more than 600 agro-dealers nationwide. It supported the cultivation of 118,000 hectares of wheat during the 2023/2024 dry season, tripling national wheat production to approximately 0.5 million metric tons.

To date, about 650,000 smallholder farmers producing wheat, rice, cassava, maize, sorghum and millet have benefited from the programme.

Addressing structural constraints

Agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economy, employing 38% of the workforce and contributing 25.2% of GDP. However, productivity remains constrained by limited access to quality inputs, weak land tenure systems, low irrigation coverage, climate variability and soil degradation.

The four-year Phase 2 project, set to commence in March 2026, aligns with the African Development Bank’s broader strategy to promote sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa. A strong emphasis will be placed on empowering youth and women through improved access to technology, financing and modern agricultural practices.

By scaling climate-smart production and strengthening value chains, the initiative aims to position agriculture as a key driver of economic resilience and food security in Nigeria.