AfDB, others pledge to make Nigeria a net wheat exporter

The African Development Bank (AfDB) together with other technical partners have reaffirmed their commitment to transform Nigeria into a net wheat exporter with sustainable modern agricultural practices.

This commitment was announced at the 2024 second regional wheat Summit, held in Abuja, Nigeria last week as key stakeholders from West and Central Africa in the agricultural sector were in attendance of the conference.

The summit centered around policies development, adoption of innovative agricultural technologies, and the mobilization of investments aimed at increasing wheat production in Nigeria, across West and Central Africa. 

Stakeholders at the event perceived Nigeria as a significant wheat consumer that has struggled to meet its domestic needs, producing only a small fraction of its total consumption, which is currently around 6.06 million metric tons annually.

Dr. Abdul Karmara, representing AfDB President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stressed the bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria towards becoming a leading wheat producer like Ethiopia and Sudan.

Karmara said that “As part of its strategic approach, Nigeria has launched an "Agro-Pockets" program across 15 northern states. This initiative leverages advanced agricultural technology to boost wheat production and increase farm yields" adding that there is a need for resource allocation for favourable agricultural policies in Nigeria.

He reassured farmers that their efforts would pay off, given the level of support from the AfDB and the Nigerian government.

The Executive Director of CORAF, Momuni Salvadogo highlighted the urgency of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on wheat imports, which currently accounts for over 60% of the country's wheat needs,  emphasizing that the country's recent dry-season wheat farming had shown the capacity to meet domestic demand.

Salvadogo called for bold steps in agricultural investment, pointing out that current agricultural prioritization remains below 10%.

He also pointed that there is a need to put policy, science at the front of our work, saying that the priority we have channeled to agriculture is less than 10%, which means that we need to make more bold steps with government fast tracking the process.

He said CORAF is involved in the development of the wheat sector and committed to take the production of it higher, while trying to support the farmers, partners and the private sector to ensure that the crop sector is duly developed with efficient network for sufficiency in Africa. 

The Regional Coordinator for the West and Central Africa Wheat Development Network (WECAWheat), Prof. Benjamin Ewa highlighted the widening gap between wheat supply and demand in the region, saying that Nigeria, despite its massive consumption only produces around 200,000 metric tons of wheat annually, resulting into imports valued at $3.03 billion. 

Ubi urged the Nigerian government to prioritize wheat production through data-driven strategies and improved infrastructure, with a focus on both irrigated and rain-fed farming.

The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, shared the state’s progress and challenges in the wheat production program saying that his state had allocated 40,000 hectares out of a national 120,000 for wheat cultivation. 

Namadi pointed out challenges like farmers’ reluctance to farm wheat due to past failures ocassioned by bad seeds as he commended the effort and support from FG and Flour Millers of Nigeria.

The Executive Director,  Lake Chad Research Institute, Prof. Baba-Gana Kabir reiterated the need for government support to agricultural development, saying they were key to food security emergency declaration.

Prof. Kabir said “The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed commitment to reducing food importation and achieving self-sufficiency in food production. We urge them to speed up implementation of the wheat roadmap and support our research efforts”

Kabir also emphasized several key interventions for required success saying that the establishment of a robust extension system to relay research findings to farmers, increased mechanization to boost efficiency, and enhanced funding for agricultural research were very necessary.

Stakeholders during the technical session of the event called for continued collaboration between governments, research institutions, and the private sector to ensure the success of Nigeria’s wheat revolution.

They however called for continuous testing and development of stress-resistant wheat varieties suitable for Nigeria’s climate with improved soil management practices, soil mapping and best agronomy as crucial to maximizing wheat yields.

Stakeholders at the event echoed the need for more investments in wheat production, particularly in irrigation infrastructure and research to develop better-adapted wheat varieties.