Nigeria has made significant strides in wheat production, achieving around 10% self-sufficiency, with ambitious plans to boost that figure to 70% over the next five years.
Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, former executive director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, shared insights into this progress during the West and Central Africa Wheat Collaborative Network’s second regional summit in Abuja on Wednesday. He emphasized the critical role of wheat as a global staple and lamented its historical neglect in Africa, which has contributed to ongoing challenges in achieving self-sufficiency.
Olabanji praised partnerships with organizations like the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico and the African Development Bank, noting that countries in Central and West Africa are increasingly recognizing the significance of wheat in regional agriculture.
He pointed to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. “Before this initiative, our wheat production was just 70,000 metric tons. However, it skyrocketed to 450,000 metric tons within three years, and productivity improved from 1.5 to 2.5 tons per hectare,” he explained. With continued support from the African Development Bank’s TAAT projects, Nigeria has now reached about 10% self-sufficiency in wheat.
Despite the achievements, Olabanji cautioned that Nigeria could have already reached 70% self-sufficiency if not for inconsistent policies. He highlighted the WECA Wheat initiative, which has united scientists to produce high-yield varieties, such as Bulog 100 and Noma, that deliver between 4.5 and 6 tonnes per hectare.
The Nigerian government remains committed to expanding wheat cultivation, with 250,000 hectares planted last season through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, also backed by the African Development Bank. Olabanji announced plans to cultivate another 250,000 hectares in 16 states for the upcoming 2024-2025 season, with a strategic goal of reaching 500,000 hectares in the future. If successful, he believes Nigeria could achieve 70% self-sufficiency within five years by attaining an average yield of 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
Dr. Toyin Adetunji, a value chain specialist and country engagement officer at TAAT, also discussed regional initiatives, highlighting the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa initiative, which aims to boost productivity by 120 million metric tons and reach 40 million farmers across the continent. She pointed to successful case studies from nations like Sudan, which improved its self-sufficiency from 22% to 55%, and Ethiopia, which has achieved 100% self-sufficiency with potential for exports.
Both Olabanji and Adetunji stressed the importance of swift action for African nations to attain wheat self-sufficiency in light of global challenges, such as the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war. “The African Development Bank has allocated $1.5 billion for agricultural development, with $134 million earmarked for Nigeria,” Adetunji stated, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to assist West and Central African nations in their agricultural transformation.
As Nigeria works towards enhancing its wheat production, the emphasis remains on collaboration, innovation, and effective policy reform to fully unlock the region’s agricultural potential.