Nigeria Moves to Expand All-Season Farming as Federal, State Governments and Germany Push New Agricultural Strategy

By Simpson Global Media News Desk

Agriculture policy enters a new implementation phase

Nigeria is moving to deepen coordination between the Federal Government, states and development partners as the country begins implementing a broader agricultural strategy designed to increase food production, strengthen food security and build more resilient agrifood systems.

The latest push is being driven through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration and its 2026–2035 Strategy and Action Plan, with the Federal Government, state governments, non-state organisations and international partners, including Germany, working to translate the framework into practical programmes.

At an Annual Community of Practice meeting in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said stronger alignment between the Federal Government, states and development partners was essential if Nigeria was to achieve sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods.

The meeting, held on October 5 and reported on October 6 and 7, brought together commissioners and officials responsible for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, health, environment, commerce and rural development.

The focus reflects a significant change in how food security is being approached.

Rather than treating agricultural production as an issue for the agriculture ministry alone, the new approach links farming with infrastructure, finance, nutrition, health, environmental sustainability, trade, data and rural development.

The Federal Government says Nigeria has already developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to domesticate the Kampala framework.

The immediate challenge is now implementation.

Why the Kampala framework matters

The CAADP Kampala Declaration provides an African continental framework for transforming agriculture and food systems over the 2026–2035 period.

Nigeria's participation is important because of the country's size, population, agricultural potential and position in West African food markets.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says the Kampala framework takes a broad agrifood-systems approach, covering sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and governance.

That approach goes beyond simply producing more crops.

A country can increase agricultural output and still experience food insecurity if farmers cannot move produce to markets, storage is inadequate, processing capacity is weak, food prices remain unaffordable or agricultural production is vulnerable to climate and insecurity.

The Nigerian government is therefore attempting to connect different parts of the food system.

Production must be linked to processing.

Processing must be connected to markets.

Markets need roads and logistics.

Farmers need financing and inputs.

Food production needs reliable data.

And agricultural policies at federal and state levels need to complement rather than undermine each other.

Kyari said this alignment must produce compatible policies, reliable data, complementary investments and clear responsibility for delivery.

The objective is to create what he described as one coherent agrifood system in which national direction and state-level implementation reinforce each other.

Ending fragmented agricultural policies

One of the strongest messages from the Maiduguri meeting was that Nigeria cannot continue with fragmented agricultural interventions.

The Minister said states should focus on their comparative advantages rather than attempting to produce everything regardless of their natural resources, infrastructure and market potential.

The argument is straightforward.

Nigeria's states have different climates, soil conditions, water resources, agricultural traditions, infrastructure and access to markets.

Some regions have strong potential for grains.

Others are better suited to livestock.

Some have opportunities in horticulture, fisheries, tree crops or processing.

A coordinated system could allow states to concentrate investment where they have the strongest comparative advantages while building supply chains that connect them to consumers across the country.

This could also reduce duplication.

If multiple states establish similar programmes without coordination, scarce public resources can be spread too thinly.

The new approach seeks to align state policies with national objectives while allowing individual states to develop sectors in which they have particular strengths.

The Ministry has described this as part of a move away from fragmented interventions towards a more coherent national agrifood strategy.

The Borno setting

The choice of Maiduguri for the Community of Practice meeting gives the agricultural strategy an important practical dimension.

Borno is one of Nigeria's states where insecurity has severely disrupted agricultural livelihoods and access to farmland over the years.

Conflict can prevent farmers from reaching fields, interrupt markets, damage rural infrastructure and force communities away from traditional agricultural areas.

For such communities, food security is not simply a question of providing fertiliser or improved seeds.

Farmers must be able to safely access farmland.

Produce must be transported.

Irrigation and storage facilities must function.

Markets need to operate.

Rural communities need access to financial services and extension support.

The partnership being discussed in Borno therefore provides a test case for whether the broader agricultural strategy can work in areas facing multiple pressures.

Germany joins the implementation effort

Germany is supporting Nigeria's efforts to implement the Kampala agenda through stronger policy coordination, state-level implementation and agricultural systems development.

According to the Federal Government, German support is being provided through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies project, funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, known as GIZ.

The partnership is intended to help strengthen agricultural policy processes, scale successful approaches and improve participation by civil society and other stakeholders.

The German contribution is important because agricultural transformation requires more than government declarations.

It requires technical capacity, institutional coordination, evidence, financing and the ability to translate policy into programmes that can be monitored.

Dr Jansen, representing the German side at the meeting, stressed that states have a central role in translating national priorities into plans, budgets and practical action for farmers, businesses and communities.

That principle could determine whether the Kampala framework produces measurable results in Nigeria.

From commitments to measurable results

The Community of Practice model is intended to help states learn from one another.

Rather than each state working independently and repeating the same mistakes, experiences from one part of the country can inform programmes elsewhere.

Kyari said a Community of Practice would only have value if experience in one state shortened the learning curve for another and progress could be assessed against agreed indicators.

That emphasis on measurement is significant.

Agricultural programmes in Nigeria have often involved announcements of inputs, equipment, loans, irrigation projects and other interventions.

The more difficult question is whether those interventions produce sustained increases in farm productivity and farmer incomes.

A programme can distribute inputs without permanently increasing production.

A tractor can be purchased without being effectively maintained.

A processing plant can be constructed without securing sufficient raw materials.

A credit scheme can exist without reaching the farmers who need it.

The government is therefore stressing the importance of knowing what works, where it works, what it costs and what is required to scale it.

Kyari also said stakeholders must be willing to identify what is not working and why.

That approach could make agricultural policy more evidence-based if it is maintained beyond the meetings.

The push for all-season farming

One of the most practical elements of the current initiative is the emphasis on all-season agriculture.

Nigeria's agricultural production remains heavily influenced by rainfall patterns.

Rain-fed agriculture can be productive, but it also leaves farmers vulnerable to changes in rainfall timing, drought, flooding and other climate-related disruptions.

Irrigation can allow farmers to produce outside the traditional rainy season.

The Federal Government has said it wants to expand all-season production through irrigation and improved access to quality seeds.

In Borno, the issue has particular importance.

If farmers can safely cultivate during more than one production cycle, communities could potentially increase output, improve household incomes and reduce dependence on food brought in from other regions.

Year-round production could also help stabilise supply.

When agricultural production is concentrated within a single season, disruptions during that season can have significant consequences.

Irrigation and improved agricultural practices can spread production over a longer period.

Irrigation as a food-security tool

Irrigation is not simply about providing water.

A functioning irrigation system requires infrastructure, maintenance, energy, water management and technical knowledge.

Farmers also need access to seeds, fertiliser, machinery, markets and financing.

That means irrigation projects must be integrated into the wider agrifood system.

If water is available but farmers cannot obtain affordable inputs, the potential benefits will be limited.

If farmers produce more but there is no storage, increased production could contribute to post-harvest losses.

If there is production and storage but no reliable route to markets, farmers may still struggle to earn sufficient income.

This is why the government is connecting irrigation with other components of the Kampala framework.

The strategy is not simply to increase farm output but to build a system capable of moving agricultural products from farms through processing and distribution channels to consumers.

Quality seeds and productivity

The government is also emphasising improved access to quality seeds.

Seed quality has a direct influence on agricultural productivity.

Farmers using unsuitable or poor-quality seed may experience lower yields, weaker resistance to disease or poor adaptation to local environmental conditions.

Improved seed varieties can help increase productivity when combined with appropriate agronomic practices.

But improved seeds alone cannot solve Nigeria's agricultural challenges.

Farmers also require extension services, soil management, fertiliser, water, machinery and access to markets.

The government's broader strategy recognises that agricultural productivity is the product of several interconnected factors.

Finance remains central

Investment and agricultural finance are among the priorities identified in the Kampala framework.

For farmers, access to capital can determine whether they are able to purchase inputs, hire labour, acquire equipment, transport produce or invest in irrigation.

Smallholder farmers can face particular difficulties accessing formal finance because of collateral requirements, limited financial records and the seasonal nature of agricultural income.

Agricultural financing therefore needs to be designed around the realities of farming.

Loans that require repayment before a farmer's crop generates income can create additional pressure.

Financing also needs to reach agribusinesses involved in processing, storage and distribution.

If finance is directed only to primary production, bottlenecks may simply move further down the supply chain.

The Kampala framework's inclusion of investment and finance alongside production reflects the need to address the whole agricultural value chain.

Linking farmers to markets

Another major objective is stronger market access.

Farmers can produce more and still remain poor if they cannot sell their harvest at remunerative prices.

Poor roads, inadequate storage, limited market information and dependence on intermediaries can reduce the income farmers receive.

The government's agrifood strategy therefore places emphasis on connecting production with markets and infrastructure.

This is especially important in rural communities where poor transport can increase the cost of moving crops.

Improving market access can also reduce food losses.

When farmers cannot move perishable produce quickly, a substantial portion can deteriorate before reaching consumers.

Better roads, storage facilities, processing centres and logistics can help preserve value.

Post-harvest losses

Reducing post-harvest losses is another important part of the national agricultural agenda.

Food security is not only about how much food farmers produce.

It is also about how much of that production reaches consumers.

Crops can be lost during harvesting, transportation, storage and processing.

Perishable products such as vegetables, fruits and some animal products can be particularly vulnerable.

Reducing those losses effectively increases the amount of food available without necessarily requiring more land.

Cold storage, warehouses, improved packaging, processing facilities and better transportation can all contribute.

The Kampala framework's broader agrifood approach creates room for these issues to be addressed alongside primary production.

Agriculture and nutrition

The government is also connecting agriculture with nutrition.

This is another important shift.

A food system can produce large quantities of a few staple commodities without necessarily providing households with balanced diets.

Nutrition requires access to diverse foods.

That includes grains and roots, but also vegetables, fruits, legumes, animal-source foods and other nutritious products.

The Community of Practice meeting included officials responsible for health alongside agriculture, livestock, fisheries, environment, commerce and rural development.

The inclusion of these sectors reflects the government's argument that food security cannot be separated from nutrition and public health.

Agricultural policies therefore have consequences beyond farm income.

They influence what food is available, how much it costs and how accessible it is to households.

Climate resilience

Climate resilience is another central component of the Kampala framework.

Nigeria's farmers face multiple weather-related risks.

Rainfall can become unpredictable.

Floods can destroy crops and infrastructure.

Periods of excessive heat can affect yields and livestock.

Drought can reduce water availability.

Climate-resilient agriculture therefore requires better planning and technologies.

Irrigation is one tool.

Improved seed varieties are another.

Soil management, water conservation, crop diversification and better weather information can also help.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has emphasised the importance of seasonal climate information to weather-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water resources.

Better integration of climate information into agricultural planning could help farmers make decisions about planting periods, crop selection and water management.

Data becomes increasingly important

Reliable agricultural data is another issue highlighted by the Federal Government.

Kyari said alignment must include reliable data so that policies and investments can be based on evidence.

Without reliable data, governments can struggle to determine how many farmers are operating in a particular area, what they produce, what inputs they need and how agricultural programmes are performing.

Data is also important for targeting.

A programme designed to support farmers should be able to identify genuine beneficiaries and avoid duplication.

The Federal Ministry has separately been developing a national digital farmers register, with the Minister saying such a system could help eliminate duplication and target support to genuine farmers.

The combination of a digital farmer database and better agricultural production data could eventually provide government with a stronger evidence base for policy.

The importance of state governments

The new agricultural approach places considerable responsibility on state governments.

Agriculture is largely implemented at the local level.

Farmers operate within communities and states.

Extension services, rural roads, irrigation systems, markets and local agricultural programmes often depend on state and local institutions.

The Federal Government can establish national policy and provide financing, but implementation ultimately reaches farmers through institutions operating closer to them.

That is why the Maiduguri meeting brought together commissioners from several sectors.

The objective is to make agricultural policy a shared responsibility rather than an isolated federal programme.

The government says states must translate national priorities into plans, budgets and concrete action.

This could require states to reassess how much they allocate to agriculture and whether their budgets match their stated priorities.

State specialisation

The state-specialisation approach is one of the more ambitious aspects of the strategy.

Nigeria's geographical diversity means that different regions have different agricultural advantages.

Rather than encouraging every state to pursue the same list of crops and programmes, policymakers want states to build around sectors where they have comparative advantages.

The idea could improve efficiency.

A state with strong conditions for a particular crop could focus investment on production and processing, while another state could specialise in livestock or a different agricultural value chain.

Regional supply chains could then connect these areas.

However, specialisation also carries risks.

States must avoid becoming overly dependent on a single commodity.

Markets can change.

Climate conditions can shift.

Disease outbreaks can affect crops and livestock.

A successful specialisation strategy would therefore need diversification within broader value chains and strong market connections.

The role of livestock

The agricultural strategy also includes livestock, fisheries and other parts of the food system.

This matters because Nigeria's food-security challenge is not limited to crops.

Livestock provides meat, milk, eggs, hides and other products.

It also supports millions of livelihoods.

Improving livestock productivity requires animal health services, feed, water, improved breeds, pasture management and modern processing.

The government has increasingly placed emphasis on livestock development as part of broader agricultural transformation.

The presence of livestock and fisheries commissioners at the Maiduguri meeting reflects the intention to treat these sectors as integrated parts of the national food system rather than separate policy areas.

Borno's conflict-affected farmers

For Borno, the practical test will be whether agricultural development can reach communities affected by insecurity.

Conflict has disrupted farming in parts of the state for years.

Farmers who fear attacks may be unable to travel to distant fields.

Markets can be interrupted.

Agricultural assets can be destroyed.

Families may be displaced.

Food production can therefore decline at precisely the time when households need it most.

All-season farming initiatives must consequently be accompanied by measures that make agricultural areas accessible and safe.

Agricultural policy and security policy intersect in such communities.

A new irrigation project has limited value if farmers cannot safely reach it.

Improved seeds cannot increase production if fields remain inaccessible.

A warehouse cannot help farmers if insecurity prevents them from transporting crops to it.

That is why the integrated approach being discussed in Maiduguri is particularly relevant.

Rural infrastructure

Infrastructure remains one of the biggest factors determining whether farmers can participate effectively in markets.

Roads connect farms to markets.

Electricity can support processing and cold storage.

Water infrastructure supports irrigation.

Warehouses reduce post-harvest losses.

Processing facilities allow farmers to capture more value from their commodities.

The Federal Government has therefore said agricultural development must be supported by complementary investments rather than isolated projects.

That principle is consistent with the Kampala framework's focus on investment, resilience and value-chain development.

Moving beyond raw commodities

Nigeria's agricultural economy has long faced a structural challenge: exporting or selling commodities with limited processing and therefore capturing only part of their potential value.

A stronger agrifood system would increase processing and agro-industrial activity within the country.

Instead of exporting raw crops, more commodities could be processed into higher-value products.

This can create employment, increase farmer demand and expand export earnings.

It can also reduce waste.

Processing can extend the shelf life of agricultural products and make them easier to transport.

The government's Kampala strategy includes trade and agro-industrial development as part of the broader transformation agenda.

That will be particularly important if Nigeria wants agriculture to contribute more significantly to non-oil export growth.

Food security and the cost of living

The renewed agricultural push comes against the backdrop of Nigeria's continuing concern about food affordability.

The government says prices of some essential food commodities have fallen by as much as 50 percent since 2023, alongside expanded input delivery, rural infrastructure investment and support for smallholder farmers.

The government's challenge is to sustain any improvement in food affordability.

Lower prices can benefit consumers, but farmers also need sufficient returns to remain in production.

If prices fall below sustainable levels, farmers may reduce planting or investment, creating future supply problems.

A successful food system must therefore balance consumer affordability with viable farm incomes.

That requires productivity gains rather than simply suppressing prices.

Higher yields, reduced losses, improved logistics and better processing can help create that balance.

Why coordination matters now

The timing of the new implementation push is significant.

Nigeria is attempting to reform its food system while simultaneously dealing with insecurity, climate pressures, infrastructure constraints, high production costs and the need to expand agricultural investment.

No single programme can address all of these issues.

The government is therefore attempting to establish a framework under which different interventions reinforce each other.

Irrigation should support production.

Production should feed processing.

Processing should create markets.

Markets should increase farmer income.

Better incomes should encourage investment.

Data should help government target support.

And state and federal policies should work in the same direction.

The CAADP framework provides an organising structure for that approach.

From Abuja to the states

Nigeria's 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan is intended to domesticate the continental CAADP commitments.

The Federal Ministry said the strategy has already been developed and validated.

The next challenge is moving from national documents to state-level action.

That means states must identify priorities, allocate budgets, establish measurable targets and coordinate with farmers and private-sector actors.

It also means the Federal Government will have to monitor implementation.

A national agricultural strategy can fail if state-level execution remains fragmented.

The Community of Practice meetings are intended to provide a mechanism for continued exchange and coordination.

Private sector participation

Government alone cannot transform Nigeria's agrifood system.

Private investors are needed in processing, storage, logistics, agricultural finance, mechanisation, irrigation and technology.

Farmers also need access to buyers and input suppliers.

Technology companies can provide digital platforms and data services.

Research institutions can develop improved seeds and production techniques.

Development partners can provide technical assistance and financing.

The Maiduguri meeting included non-state actors and development partners alongside government officials.

That broader participation is important because agriculture is ultimately an economic ecosystem.

Government establishes the framework.

Farmers produce.

Businesses process and distribute.

Consumers create demand.

Investors provide capital.

Research institutions develop knowledge.

Each part must function if the system is to become more productive.

What success would look like

The success of the new agricultural strategy should be measured in practical terms.

Farmers should be able to cultivate safely.

Yields should increase.

Irrigation should allow more production outside the rainy season.

Post-harvest losses should decline.

Storage capacity should improve.

Processing should expand.

Agricultural finance should become more accessible.

Farmers should earn sustainable incomes.

Consumers should have access to nutritious food at affordable prices.

And Nigeria should become more competitive in regional and international agricultural markets.

These outcomes will require years rather than weeks.

The 2026–2035 Kampala framework provides a long implementation period, but progress will need to be visible along the way.

The accountability challenge

The most important question after the Maiduguri meeting is therefore not whether another agricultural strategy exists.

Nigeria has had numerous agricultural policies and programmes over the years.

The question is whether this framework will produce better implementation.

The government itself has acknowledged the need to move beyond fragmented approaches.

That means measuring results rather than simply counting projects.

A successful irrigation programme should be evaluated by additional hectares cultivated and increased farm output.

A financing programme should be assessed by the number of viable farmers and agribusinesses it reaches and the outcomes they achieve.

A seed programme should be assessed by productivity improvements.

A storage project should be measured partly by reductions in post-harvest losses.

A market intervention should demonstrate whether farmers obtain better and more predictable access to buyers.

Such indicators can turn agricultural policy from a collection of announcements into a measurable development programme.

The Borno test

Borno provides one of the most demanding environments in which to test the strategy.

If all-season production, irrigation, improved inputs, infrastructure and stronger coordination can increase agricultural activity in communities affected by conflict, the lessons could be valuable for other parts of Nigeria.

But success will require more than agricultural investment.

Security and agricultural development must move together.

Farmers need confidence that they can cultivate without abandoning their fields.

Markets need to remain accessible.

Rural infrastructure must be protected.

Development partners must coordinate rather than duplicate programmes.

And government agencies must maintain a long-term presence.

That is why the cross-sector nature of the Maiduguri meeting matters.

A broader economic opportunity

Agriculture remains one of Nigeria's largest potential sources of economic diversification.

The country has extensive agricultural land, a large domestic market and access to regional markets.

Its population provides strong demand for food.

The challenge has been converting those advantages into a productive and competitive food system.

A more integrated agricultural strategy could help Nigeria move in that direction.

If farmers produce more efficiently and processors have reliable access to raw materials, new businesses can emerge.

If logistics improve, markets can expand.

If quality standards improve, exports can grow.

If agricultural finance becomes more accessible, private investment can increase.

If research and technology are integrated into farming, productivity can improve.

The potential is substantial, but it depends on execution.

The road ahead

The Federal Government, states and development partners now face the task of turning the commitments made in Maiduguri into programmes that farmers can see and measure.

The immediate priorities include stronger policy coordination, reliable agricultural data, aligned investments, improved irrigation, quality inputs, agricultural finance, infrastructure and climate-resilient production.

Germany's involvement provides additional technical and institutional support.

The states, however, will remain central.

They will have to translate national priorities into local programmes and budgets.

Farmers and agricultural businesses will also need a stronger voice in deciding which interventions work.

The government's Community of Practice model is intended to provide a continuing forum for that exchange.

A strategy that must reach the farm

Nigeria's latest agricultural initiative comes at a time when the country needs more than policy statements.

It needs production.

It needs affordable food.

It needs viable farmers.

It needs functioning rural economies.

It needs investment.

And it needs a food system capable of withstanding insecurity, climate shocks and market disruptions.

The CAADP Kampala Declaration gives Nigeria a continental framework for pursuing those objectives through 2035.

The Federal Government says its 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan provides the domestic vehicle for implementing the commitments.

Germany and other partners are supporting the implementation process.

States are being asked to align policies, budgets and investments.

And Borno is emerging as one of the places where the new approach will be tested through efforts to expand all-season agriculture and strengthen food production.

The significance of the October meeting in Maiduguri will therefore depend less on the declarations made there than on what happens afterwards.

If farmers gain safer access to land, better irrigation, improved seeds, affordable finance, reliable markets and stronger infrastructure, the policy will begin to demonstrate its value.

If states coordinate their agricultural investments rather than duplicating programmes, resources could be used more effectively.

If government agencies collect reliable data and use it to target support, agricultural interventions could become more precise.

If processing and market infrastructure expand alongside production, farmers could capture more value.

And if the lessons from Borno and other states are systematically shared, Nigeria could gradually build a more coherent national food system.

The task is substantial.

Nigeria's agricultural challenges have accumulated over decades, and no single declaration can resolve them.

But the current approach represents an attempt to address those challenges as parts of one system rather than as isolated problems.

For Nigerian farmers, the ultimate measure will be simple: whether the new strategy makes farming more productive, more secure and more profitable.

For consumers, the test will be whether it contributes to a stable supply of safe and nutritious food at affordable prices.

For government, the test will be whether national and state institutions can turn policy commitments into measurable results.

And for Nigeria's wider economy, the ambition is to transform agriculture from a sector with enormous untapped potential into a more productive, resilient and competitive engine of growth.

The Kampala framework gives the country until 2035 to pursue that transformation.

The implementation phase has now begun.

The next challenge is making sure that its ambitions reach the farms, markets and households that ultimately determine whether Nigeria's food-security strategy succeeds.