AS farmers commenced the 2025 planting season, it is vital for the government to rally public support in order to enhance food production. Despite Nigeria’s vast arable land and favourable climate, the country continues to face significant challenges on food supply.

NIGERIA has a rich agricultural heritage. Before the oil boom of the 1970s and 1980s, agriculture accounted for 60 to 65 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). From cocoa and palm oil in the South to groundnuts in the North, farming was the backbone of the economy. However, with the advent of crude oil exploration in commercial quantity, agriculture began a steady decline, leading to the troubling state of food insecurity we face today. Rising food prices now pose a serious threat to both food security and sufficiency.

THIS crisis is further compounded by insecurity. Armed herdsmen and kidnappers have repeatedly invaded several farms, killed the farmers, and destroyed their crops, particularly in the  North Central, North East and the North West. In Benue State, once proudly known as the “food basket of the nation”, many residents have been forced to abandon their homes and now live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. The South has not been spared either. From the South-East to the South-South and the South-West, similar reports abound of farm invasions and violence.

WITH Nigeria’s population projected to exceed 250 million by 2030, achieving food security is more urgent than ever. The nation’s heavy reliance on food importation points to a deeper structural problem that requires long-term, strategic solutions. Food sufficiency is not just a policy target,  it is a necessity for national wellbeing. Given our rich natural resources and right support, Nigeria can achieve food sufficiency, not only to feed itself but also become a major food exporter.

IN an era where digital tools such as precision farming, mobile extension services, and real-time market data can revolutionise agriculture, many Nigerian farmers still rely on outdated tools and manual labour. Most depend on rain-fed agriculture rather than irrigation, limiting production to just part of the year.

AT The Hope, we urge  the Nigerian government to do everything possible to secure farmers and their farmlands. Nigerians must have both physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Tackling rural banditry, herder-farmer conflicts, and kidnapping is critical to restoring agricultural productivity, as insecurity remains the foremost threat to agriculture in Nigeria.

WE also call on the government to actively mobilise citizens to embrace farming. If food security and sufficiency are to be achieved, public support for agriculture must be galvanised. This can be done through financial assistance, training programmes, and ensuring timely access to farming inputs.

FURTHERMORE, the government must promote mechanised farming. A significant improvement in food production depends on modernising the agricultural sector. To boost food production, mechanised farming must be encouraged.

THE HOPE also appeals to philanthropists to support the government’s efforts by investing in agriculture and providing funding to aspiring farmers. Improving food security would significantly reduce the risk of social unrest and conflict, which often stem from food shortages. Moreover, well-nourished children are more likely to be healthy, perform well academically, and break the cycle of poverty.