Over 60% of Nigeria’s Farmers Live in the North

News in Brief:

-Over 60% of Nigeria’s 40.2 million farming households are based in the North, making the region central to the nation’s food production.

-However, rising insecurity and a lack of registered farmlands threaten food output, investment, and national food security.

A recent survey reveals that out of Nigeria’s 40.2 million farming households, about 24.6 million are located in the North-West, North-Central, and North-East zones. This means the North accounts for roughly 61% of the country’s farmers, making it the backbone of Nigeria’s food production.

The 2024 survey, conducted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), also highlights key trends. 

In the northern zones, about 92% of farming households are headed by men, while only 8% are led by women, a sharp contrast to the South, where around 21% of farming households are headed by women. 

Educational levels also vary: 17% of household heads attained education beyond secondary school, 34% completed secondary school, and just 1% had no formal education. 

Alarmingly, about 37.9 million (94.3%) of farming households have no registered agricultural holdings — meaning most farmlands and livestock used for production are not formally documented.

Insecurity Threatens Nigeria’s Food Security

Insecurity in Northern Nigeria is a major threat to the nation’s food supply, as most of the country’s farmers live and work there. Continuous attacks by insurgents, bandits, and communal clashes have driven many farmers away from their land, disrupted planting and harvest seasons, and made it difficult to access seeds, fertilisers, and markets. 

Since the northern zones produce a large share of Nigeria’s food, these disruptions lead to lower yields, higher food prices, and greater dependence on imports, worsening hunger and poverty across the country.

The impact goes beyond short-term food shortages. Fear of violence has discouraged investment in large-scale farming, weakened rural economies, and reduced young people’s interest in agriculture. 

With over 94% of farming households lacking registered holdings, it is even harder for the government to provide targeted support, credit, or insurance in insecure areas. Restoring peace and protecting farming communities in the North is essential, not just for regional stability but for safeguarding the entire country’s food system.