By Faridat Salifu
Experts say 2025 was a pivotal year for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, revealing both progress and persistent vulnerabilities.
Economists note that rising food prices, particularly for staples like rice, maize, yam, beans, and livestock products, exposed households to increased food insecurity.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Borno experienced the highest food inflation at 64.36 per cent, followed by Bayelsa at 39.85 per cent and Taraba at 38.58 per cent, highlighting wide regional disparities.
Agronomists point out that devastating floods in several states disrupted production cycles, reduced crop output, and damaged key infrastructure, underscoring the sector’s vulnerability to climate shocks.
Policy analysts argue that government interventions, including calls for private-sector investment in climate-smart agriculture, regenerative farming, and digital technologies, offered important pathways for resilience but were hampered by execution gaps.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking as Chairman of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, emphasised that stronger collaboration between government and private investors is crucial to creating inclusive and sustainable food systems.
Experts say the mixed outcomes of 2025 reveal that Nigeria’s agriculture is at a crossroads: without targeted investment in adaptive technologies, improved supply chains, and climate-resilient practices, future shocks could deepen food insecurity.
They recommend a focus on risk management, regional coordination, and capacity building for farmers to ensure that agriculture remains both a driver of economic growth and a buffer against crises.
The year 2025 demonstrated that resilience, rather than output alone, will define the long-term success of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, and expert guidance will be essential in shaping policy and investment decisions moving forward.
