By Zita Ifeanyichukwu
Nigeria’s agricultural sector is at a point where increasing food production is no longer simply about getting more farmers onto the land. It is increasingly about whether farmers can continue producing effectively in the face of changing weather patterns, rising input costs and other pressures affecting the agricultural value chain.
This concern was brought to the fore on Monday, September 28, 2026, as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) called for increased investment in agroecology to strengthen food security, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development in Africa.
The call is coming at a time when Nigerian farmers are already experiencing the consequences of unpredictable weather. Farmers and agribusiness operators have reported disruptions caused by irregular rainfall, prolonged dry spells, flooding, rising temperatures, pests and crop diseases. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
The problem is particularly important for Nigeria because a significant part of agricultural production depends on weather conditions. When rainfall arrives too early, too late or in excessive amounts, farmers may struggle to plant or harvest at the expected time. Flooding can destroy crops, while prolonged dry periods can reduce yields.
The implications go beyond the farmer.
When agricultural production is disrupted, the effects can move through the entire food supply chain. Lower yields can reduce market supply, while higher transportation, fertiliser and other input costs can increase the cost of getting food from farms to consumers.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s latest country brief also points to several pressures on Nigeria’s 2026 cereal production. It identified dry spells in parts of the country, conflict-related disruption to farming activities and high agricultural input costs as factors that could affect production. It also reported that food inflation reached 20.3 per cent in July 2026. (FAO GIEWS)
The real issueIn my view, the bigger issue is not simply whether Nigeria has enough farmland. The question is whether the country is adequately preparing its farmers for a changing agricultural environment.
For years, discussions around food security have focused heavily on increasing production. That remains important, but production without resilience may not be enough. A farmer who produces successfully one season but loses crops to flooding or drought the next season remains vulnerable.
This is why investment in irrigation, improved seeds, agricultural research, extension services, insurance, storage and climate-smart farming deserves greater attention.
There are already signs that climate-smart agricultural investment is becoming part of the response. On Monday, an EU-funded Agriculture Financing Initiative announced a $2.5 million investment in Tomato Jos to expand climate-smart tomato production and processing in northern Nigeria. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
Such investments could help demonstrate that climate adaptation does not necessarily have to mean abandoning agricultural productivity. Rather, technology, financing and better farming practices can potentially help farmers produce more efficiently while reducing their exposure to climate-related risks.
However, the responsibility cannot rest entirely on individual farmers. Smallholder farmers may not have the financial capacity to independently acquire irrigation systems, improved seeds, insurance or modern equipment.
Government agencies, financial institutions, research organisations and private investors therefore have important roles to play in making these tools accessible and affordable.
My viewNigeria should begin treating climate resilience as a central part of its food-security strategy rather than as a secondary agricultural concern.
The country cannot sustainably address food insecurity if farmers continue to face unpredictable weather without adequate support to adapt. Increasing production is necessary, but protecting that production from climate-related shocks is equally important.
If Nigeria wants stable food supplies and more predictable food prices, investment must go beyond the farm gate. It should cover the entire agricultural chain from climate information and farm inputs to production, storage, transportation and processing.
The current debate therefore presents an opportunity to rethink what food security means for Nigeria. The goal should not only be to produce more food today, but to build an agricultural system capable of producing food consistently in the years ahead.