Nigeria is accelerating efforts to build a more resilient and efficient food system through a coordinated, data-driven agricultural planning framework under the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM).

The initiative gained renewed momentum during a three-day NAPM Stakeholders’ Planning and Validation Workshop held in Ado Ekiti, where the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) convened federal and state stakeholders to assess the 2025/2026 dry season and align priorities for the upcoming planting cycle.

A unified approach to agricultural planning

Launched in May 2025 under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM) is now in its final implementation phase across 13 states.

The framework brings together government agencies, development partners and private sector players into a single planning system aimed at improving coordination, efficiency and long-term food security outcomes.

According to stakeholders, the shift toward integrated planning is critical in addressing structural inefficiencies that have historically constrained agricultural productivity.

Data at the centre of food system transformation

At the core of the initiative is a bottom-up data model that captures real-time insights from farmers and aggregates them into a national planning system.

This approach enables the government to align:

• Production levels
• Imports and exports
• Strategic food reserves
• Input distribution systems

By doing so, Nigeria is strengthening its ability to anticipate supply gaps, respond to shocks and ensure consistent food availability across regions.

Productivity gains despite structural challenges

Despite ongoing constraints, early data from the NAPM framework points to improving productivity trends.

While total cultivated land declined by 36% below projections—largely due to limited access to finance and rising input costs—output per hectare increased across key crops. This suggests a shift toward more efficient and intensive farming practices.

One of the standout developments is maize production, which rose by nearly 15% during the dry season.

In parts of the South-West and South-East, maize accounted for over 70% of farming activity, reflecting changing regional production dynamics and growing demand alignment.

Financing remains a key constraint

Access to finance continues to be the biggest barrier to scaling agricultural output, with between 70% and 76% of farmers identifying it as their primary challenge.

This highlights the urgent need to better integrate agricultural data with:

• Financing systems
• Input supply chains
• Policy interventions

Strengthening this link will be essential to unlocking productivity at scale and ensuring that planning translates into real on-ground impact.

Building a resilient agricultural future

Stakeholders emphasised that coordinated planning is not just about increasing production, but about building resilience across the entire food system.

By integrating data, policy and implementation, Nigeria is positioning itself to:

• Improve food security
• Stabilise supply chains
• Support farmer livelihoods
• Respond more effectively to climate and market shocks

As the NAPM framework moves toward full implementation, it represents a significant step toward a more modern, data-driven agricultural economy in Africa’s largest market.