Nigeria’s food inflation has reached alarming levels in recent months, significantly impacting the population’s food security and overall economic stability. Prices of many staple foods have quadrupled in recent times. Many average Nigerians can barely afford two meals a day. With June food inflation from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) putting it at above 40%; one of the highest in Africa, there is an urgent need for prompt government intervention to stem the tide. Understanding the causes of this crisis and proposing viable solutions requires a comprehensive analysis of the various factors at play.
One of the primary drivers of food scarcity in Nigeria is persistent insecurity and conflict, particularly in the agricultural regions. The North-East, a significant food-producing area, has been ravaged by insurgency for over a decade. The activities of Boko Haram and other militant groups have disrupted farming activities, leading to reduced agricultural output.
In addition to insurgency, banditry and kidnappings in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and Katsina have forced many farmers to abandon their lands. The fear of being attacked has significantly reduced the number of people willing to engage in farming, exacerbating food shortages.
Climate change has had a profound impact on agriculture in Nigeria. The country has experienced erratic weather patterns, including severe flooding and prolonged droughts, which have destroyed crops and reduced yields. In 2020, for instance, extensive flooding in Kebbi States, known as the “rice bowl” of Nigeria, destroyed thousands of hectares of rice farms, leading to a significant reduction in rice production.
Desertification, particularly in the northern part of the country, has also contributed to the loss of arable land. The advancing Sahara Desert has rendered previously fertile lands barren, reducing the available land for farms.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s economy has faced significant challenges in recent years, impacting food prices. The depreciation of the Naira against major currencies has increased the cost of imported food and agricultural inputs. Fertilizers, machinery, and other inputs required for modern farming have become more expensive, leading to higher production costs and, consequently, higher food prices.
Rising fuel prices have also played a role in food inflation. Higher fuel costs increase the expenses associated with transportation and mechanised farming, both of which are critical to the agricultural supply chain.
Policy and governance issues have also contributed to the food inflation crisis. Import restrictions, while intended to boost local production, have sometimes led to shortages and price hikes. For instance, the ban on rice imports was aimed at encouraging local rice production, but it also led to an increase in rice prices due to insufficient domestic supply.
Inefficient subsidies and corruption have further compounded the problem. Agricultural subsidies, which are meant to support farmers, often do not reach the intended beneficiaries due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption. This has left many smallholder farmers without the necessary support to increase their productivity.
More so, Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructure significantly hampers agricultural productivity. Poor road networks, especially in rural areas, make it difficult to transport food from farms to markets, leading to post-harvest losses and higher food prices. In addition, the lack of modern storage facilities means that a substantial amount of produce is lost after harvest. For example, it is estimated that Nigeria loses about 40% of its tomato production due to poor storage facilities.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach and policy interventions. Enhancing security in agricultural areas to allow farmers to return to their lands is key to having food sufficiency. This approach must include establishing specialised agricultural protection units within security forces, implementation of community policing in rural areas to improve farmer-herder relations, and the use of technology like drones and satellite imaging for early warning systems.
Accelerate investing in Climate-Smart Agriculture to promote drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices. Developing a national climate-smart agriculture strategy can be done by subsidising drought-resistant seed varieties and organic fertilizers, investing in water harvesting and storage infrastructure, and promoting agroforestry and conservation agriculture techniques.
Implement policies to stabilise the Naira and reduce import dependency. This could involve diversifying the economy and boosting non-oil exports. Additionally, by implementing a managed float exchange rate system, boosting foreign exchange earnings through agricultural exports and encouraging import substitution for key agricultural inputs.
Improving infrastructure by investing in rural roads, storage facilities, and cold chains to reduce post-harvest losses. Launch a rural infrastructure development initiative focusing on farm-to-market roads through Public-Private Partnerships for infrastructure development. Also, modern storage facilities with temperature control and rural electrification using renewable energy should receive massive investment.
Develop and maintain long-term agricultural policies that encourage investment and innovation in the sector. Create short-term and long-term agricultural goals with clear unambiguous targets. This should be consistently reviewed to reflect broader economic and trade policy goals.
Support smallholder farmers by enhancing all the existing channels to access credit, inputs, and extension services to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, corruption, and nepotism. Also, the launch of an “Agripreneurship” program in schools and universities and providing startup grants and mentorship for young farmers will boost small-scale farming.
Promoting the use of agricultural technology to improve productivity. Resuscitating and reinvigorating the e-wallet system for efficient input distribution. Launch an AgriTech Innovation Fund to support local startups, develop a national agricultural database using GIS and remote sensing, and promote precision agriculture techniques among medium to large-scale farmers. Additional elite and public servants should emulate the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani in promoting technology in agriculture.
Reevaluate and improve the social safety nets. Implement targeted food assistance programs for vulnerable populations, similar to Brazil’s successful Bolsa Família program scale. Implement a conditional cash transfer program tied to nutrition outcomes. Restructure and strengthen the school feeding programs to capture more vulnerable children.
Encourage local food processing by investing in food processing industries to add value to agricultural products and create jobs. Thailand’s success in becoming a major food exporter through processing is a good model. Offer tax incentives for food processing companies, establish food processing clusters with shared infrastructure, and develop a national food fortification program to address micronutrient deficiencies.
To effectively implement these interventions, the government should consider:
- Prioritising interventions based on immediate impact and long-term sustainability;
- Developing a clear, measurable target for each intervention;
- Establishing a multi-stakeholder implementation committee including government, private sector, and civil society representatives;
- Creating a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and adjust strategies as needed;
- Ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation process;
- Engaging international development partners for technical and financial support.
The food crisis in Nigeria is a national emergency that requires urgent mitigation strategies to address it. Adopting this comprehensive and coordinated approach and interventions, Nigeria can address its food inflation crisis while building a more resilient and productive agricultural sector. This will not only improve food security but also contribute to overall economic growth and poverty reduction.