By Celestine Amoke

Copyright independent

Agriculture is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, food security, and employment.

Yet, despite having over 82 million hectares of arable land, only about 34 million hectares are currently cultivated.

Much of this is done using traditional methods, which are labour-intensive and inefficient.

The result is low productivity: average maize yields, for example, are about 1.8 tons per hectare in Nigeria, compared to 4–5 tons in countries like Brazil and South Africa. With the population projected to reach 230 million by 2050, there is an urgent need to adopt modern farming techniques that can boost food output, reduce losses, and ensure sustainable growth.

Mechanisation As Game Changer

Mechanisation is one of the fastest ways to scale up agricultural output. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Nigeria has fewer than 30,000 functional tractors, whereas it needs at least 300,000 to meet cultivation demands.

Where mechanisation has been introduced, the results are striking. In Kaduna State, tractor-hiring schemes supported by government and private investors have enabled smallholder farmers to cultivate 50–70% more land within the same farming season, leading to increased harvests of maize and sorghum.

Take the case of Musa, a smallholder farmer from Zaria. Before joining a cooperative that gave him access to tractor services, he cultivated only two hectares of maize. With mechanisation, he now farms five hectares and harvests nearly three times more than before, enough to sell in local markets and still keep food for his family. His story illustrates how simple access to technology can transform livelihoods.

Precision Agriculture: Data-Driven Decisions

Precision agriculture—using drones, GPS mapping, and sensors—helps farmers apply inputs more efficiently.

Soil testing has been shown to increase fertilizer use efficiency by up to 25%, while drone-assisted pest monitoring reduces chemical use by about 15%.

In Oyo State, commercial farms adopting drone surveillance have reported yield increases of 20–30% in tomatoes and peppers. These gains demonstrate how technology-driven decisions can directly translate to higher productivity and reduced costs.

Improved Irrigation and Water Management

Rain-fed agriculture accounts for over 90% of Nigeria’s farming, making it highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall.

Yet, irrigated farms consistently record yields 2–3 times higher than rain-fed farms. Kano State’s Fadama irrigation schemes, for example, allow farmers to cultivate vegetables, rice, and wheat all year round. Rice farmers using small-scale drip irrigation systems in northern Nigeria have reported yields of 5–6 tons per hectare, compared to the national average of 2 tons.

Scaling such systems nationwide could help Nigeria reduce its heavy rice import bill, currently over $2 billion annually.

High-Yield and Resilient Crop Varieties

Adopting improved seeds is another proven path to higher output.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) have developed maize and cassava varieties capable of yielding 2–3 times more than traditional varieties.

In Anambra State, farmers under the Anambra Rice Project recorded yield increases from 2.5 tons to 5 tons per hectare after switching to improved rice seeds.

One farmer, Ngozi from Ayamelum, shared how the improved rice seed changed her fortunes.

For years, her one-hectare farm produced little more than subsistence yields. After adopting the improved variety and receiving training from extension officers, she harvested double the output and was able to pay her children’s school fees from the proceeds.

Success stories like Ngozi’s highlight the life-changing potential of modern farming practices.

Digital Agriculture and Market Access

Digital platforms are helping Nigerian farmers overcome information and market barriers.

Apps like Farmcrowdy and Thrive Agric connect farmers with finance, weather forecasts, and buyers.

A 2023 survey by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) showed that farmers who used digital advisory services in Nigeria increased their productivity by an average of 22%.

In Lagos and Oyo, farmers leveraging digital platforms for market access report earning 15– 20% more on their produce, since they bypass exploitative middlemen.

Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Farming

Greenhouse technology is showing great promise in urban and peri-urban centres. In Ogun and Abuja, greenhouse farms have reported tomato yields of 8–10 kg per square meter, compared to the 1.5–2 kg average in open-field production.

These systems also cut post-harvest losses by more than half, as produce is less prone to pests and adverse weather. While the initial investment is high, the long-term returns—steady supply, higher quality, and premium pricing— make greenhouse farming a viable option for progressive farmers.

Post-Harvest Storage and Value Addition

Nigeria loses between 30–40% of its farm produce annually due to poor storage and weak value chains. For example, in Benue State, up to 45% of harvested oranges spoil before reaching markets.

By adopting hermetic storage bags, silos, and cold storage, farmers can cut grain losses by up to 60%.

Value addition also multiplies income: processing cassava into flour increases earnings by nearly 50% compared to selling raw tubers.

In states like Kogi, small agro-processing centres are creating jobs while helping farmers stabilise their income.

Training and Capacity Building

Technology adoption depends on knowledge. Unfortunately, Nigeria has a low extension worker-to-farmer ratio—about 1 to 3,000, compared to the FAO recommendation of 1 to 800. This gap makes training essential.

In Enugu State, extension programs that trained farmers on modern poultry and vegetable practices saw participants report yield increases of up to 40%. Scaling such programs nationwide will ensure that innovations are not just introduced but also applied effectively.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector is at a turning point. Modern techniques—mechanisation, precision farming, irrigation, improved seeds, digital tools, greenhouses, and better storage— are no longer optional luxuries but urgent necessities.

States like Kaduna, Oyo, Anambra, and Enugu are already recording measurable gains where these methods have been applied. If such initiatives are scaled across the country, Nigeria can double its crop yields, cut food losses, and move from being a net importer of food to a regional agricultural powerhouse.

With evidence showing yield increases of 20–100% from modern techniques, and with farmers like Musa and Ngozi already reaping the benefits, the pathway to food security and prosperity is clear: Nigeria must invest boldly in the future of farming.