Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Grows by 4.39% in Second Quarter of 2026

The Federal Government announced that Nigeria’s agriculture sector grew by 4.39% in the second quarter of 2026. This growth is attributed to ongoing reforms and investments aimed at improving food production and farmers’ productivity.

Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, shared this information in a statement on Friday, coinciding with the 2026 World Food Day, which is celebrated on October 16. He noted that this marks the first strong growth for the sector since 2021.

Abdullahi explained that the growth reflects the impact of government interventions designed to boost food production and reduce losses after harvest. Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government is working to make agriculture more productive and attractive to investors.

One of the initiatives, the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket, has helped small farmers produce 2.5 million metric tonnes of staple foods over four farming seasons. Additionally, Nigeria’s domestic wheat production has increased significantly, from 120,000 metric tonnes to about 420,000 metric tonnes.

The government has also launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, which includes 2,000 tractors to ease the burden of manual farming and attract young people to agriculture. Other efforts include soil mapping, promoting biofortified crops, and improving agricultural extension services.

To address rising food prices, the government is investing in dry-season farming and developing storage facilities. These measures aim to cut post-harvest losses from 40% to below 20%. The government is also enhancing irrigation and promoting climate-smart agriculture.

On the issue of insecurity in food-producing areas of Northern Nigeria, Abdullahi mentioned that additional security personnel are being deployed to protect farmlands. He emphasized the need for collaboration among government institutions, farmers, and the private sector to achieve food security.