In a year marked by deepening concerns over food security and climate-induced agricultural decline, Ekiti State has received plaudits for being a shining example with its deliberate, well-structured support for farmers can achieve.
A new national report by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s National Technical Committee on Agricultural Statistics, has hailed Ekiti’s strides in boosting rural agriculture during the 2024 wet season. The state was specifically recognised for its intentional investment in productivity, particularly in crop and livestock development, at a time when much of the country is grappling with declining yields and shrinking water supplies.
From maize to rice, cowpea to cassava, Ekiti has recorded gains in land area cultivated, production output, and yield per hectare. According to the report, the state was among the few that proactively procured and distributed crucial agricultural inputs to farmers, ranging from seedlings to herbicides and fungicides.
“In the 2024 farming season, Ekiti State Government procured and distributed 7,053.5 litres of herbicides, 1,239 litres of liquid insecticides, 123.32kg of powdered insecticides, 199 litres of liquid fungicides, and 213.8kg of powdered fungicides,” the report noted. “These inputs were accessible and affordable for farmers.”
Such interventions are not only commendable, they are also critical. With more than 80% of Nigeria’s farmers being smallholders who contribute up to 90% of the country’s agricultural output, many still till the land with their bare hands and rudimentary tools. Access to modern inputs and support remains limited in most regions.
But while Ekiti is setting an example, the broader national picture is far more troubling.
Across northern Nigeria, where rainfall is becoming increasingly erratic and water bodies are vanishing, climate change is tightening its grip. In Adamawa, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported last year that more than 1,250 hectares of farmland were affected by water scarcity. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rain patterns have disrupted food supplies and upended rural livelihoods.
“The government has failed to develop infrastructure like dams that could help farmers cope with climate change,” said Daniel Obiora, national president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria. “The result is low yield and farmer fatigue.”
The stakes could not be higher. Nigeria, set to become the world’s third most populous country by 2025, is projected to hit a staggering 400 million people by 2050. That growth will intensify the demand for food and water, compounding the urgency of transforming the country’s agricultural systems.
Yet despite increased government spending in the sector, Nigeria’s agricultural output tells a different story. Agriculture’s contribution to the national GDP slipped from 25% in Q1 to 22% in Q2 of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Meanwhile, household food imports surged by 136% over the same period—a damning indicator of domestic production shortfalls.
In the south, where rainfall is more reliable, farmers are not immune to the pressures. Poor road networks, post-harvest losses, and lack of access to capital continue to stifle potential.
This is why Ekiti’s example matters. It demonstrates that even in a challenging national landscape, progress is possible—when support is targeted, farmers are empowered, and governments take climate-smart agriculture seriously.
As the UN Food and Agriculture Organization continues to champion innovations like drip irrigation and climate-resilient farming techniques, Nigeria faces a choice: replicate success stories like Ekiti or risk deeper hunger and food insecurity in the years ahead.
