Food Production Surged in 2025 Wet Season — NAERLS

News in Brief

-A recent survey reveals that the 2025 wet season in Nigeria led to higher production of major food crops and a notable decrease in staple food prices.

-Issues like high input costs and livestock disease outbreaks continue to challenge the sector.

Nigeria recorded a moderate increase in food production and a reduction in prices during the 2025 wet season compared to 2024, according to the latest Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The nationwide survey, which collected data from farmers across the 36 states, showed that the North-West, parts of the North-East, and the South-West experienced improved crop and livestock production. It notes that increased rainfall, which created opportunities for multiple planting cycles and pasture regeneration, drove this growth.

However, it finds that irregular rainfall patterns and frequent dry spells undermined the reliability of rainfall for farming in several areas. Issues such as soil erosion, water stress, and reduced rainfall in some zones continued to limit agricultural productivity nationwide.

Price Drops in Food Items

The survey observed that increased production of major crops like rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava contributed to a price drop of up to 50% for some food items compared to 2024.

Similarly, improved rainfall boosted livestock and fisheries production, enhancing pasture growth for cattle and refilling inland water bodies for fish farmers. Yet, these same conditions encouraged the persistence of crop pests and animal diseases across regions.

Key Findings of Nigeria's 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey

Total production increased by 1–5% across most staples, with modest expansion in cultivated area. For example, rice grew by 2.7% to 9.37 million tonnes (MT) while maize rose by 2.0% to 11.44 MT. Cowpea increased by 4.6%, groundnut by 3.08%, and benniseed by 5.5%. Yam and cassava recorded growth of 2.2% and 1.6%, respectively.

Interest in mechanisation rose significantly, with more farmers adopting tractors and other mechanised tools. However, animal traction remains prevalent in rural areas because it offers a more affordable option for land preparation.

The cost of quality seeds, fertiliser, agrochemicals, and access to extension services remained high and uneven across regions, affecting farmers’ profitability.

Although farmers continued to face disease outbreaks in some regions, improved rainfall supported better pasture growth and reduced feed shortages.

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were reported sporadically in northern pastoral zones. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) outbreaks occurred in pockets across most zones except the South-East. In the poultry sector, Newcastle disease remained the most common infection among small and medium-scale farms nationwide.

The fisheries sector showed signs of recovery as inland water bodies refilled during the wet season, improving fishing activities.

Evidence-Based Solutions on the Horizon

Speaking at the presentation of the report on Tuesday in Abuja, Prof. Yusuf Sani Ahmad, Executive Director of NAERLS, said the findings confirm steady growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, driven by expanded cultivation, improved farming practices, and farmer resilience in major producing states.

In his remarks during the release briefing, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the importance of the APS for evidence-based policymaking. He noted that the findings would help the government refine agricultural policies to enhance food and nutrition security.

The minister pledged the government’s commitment to implementing key recommendations from the report, including: institutionalising dry-season surveys to complement wet-season data, expanding mechanisation access, scaling up climate-smart agriculture, and strengthening extension and veterinary services nationwide.