Insecurity: Food Production Declines as Commercial Farms Close in Nigeria

Food production in Nigeria is on the decline as many commercial farms shut down due to escalating security challenges, according to findings, and as reported by Daily Trust. Farms along key highways like the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and the Abuja-Lokoja highway are among those affected by banditry and kidnappings.

A Kaduna State House of Assembly member, preferring anonymity, shared that he abandoned his farm in Birnin Gwari LGA due to bandit activities. Imam Hussaini Udawa, with a farm on the Kaduna-Niger State border, echoed similar concerns, highlighting the loss of jobs for his workers.

Other farmers across the country recount similar tales. Hajiya Mairo Ahmadu’s father abandoned his cattle farm in Sokoto, while a rice farmer in Plateau State fled his 1,000-hectare field after an abduction attempt. In Taraba, Bashir Haman left his maize farm, hiring hunters to ensure a safe harvest, while another farmer had to pay off bandits to access his land.

In Benue State, Vitalis Tarnongu was severely injured in an attack on his rice and cassava farm, leading to its abandonment. Similarly, Omakwu Madaki ceased farming on his 600 hectares in Otukpo LGA due to herder attacks.

Yobe State also faces agricultural setbacks, with insurgency forcing many farmers away. The ban on urea fertilizer, crucial for crop production, further hampers efforts.

Architect Kabiru Ibrahim of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) highlights the collapse of commercial farming in the North due to insecurity. Beyond security, he cites production costs, lack of credit, low mechanization, and climate change as contributing factors.

Agricultural economists Amos Banda and Malam Isma’ila Bello stress the significant impact of these closures on Nigeria’s food production and costs. Bello calls for secured farmlands rather than border openings as a solution.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture plans to deploy agro rangers from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to protect commercial farms nationwide, aiming to stabilize the agricultural sector amidst these security challenges.