Nigeria aims to boost its wheat production self-sufficiency from the current 10% to 70% within the next five years, according to Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, former executive director of the Lake Chad Research Institute. He shared insights at the West and Central Africa Wheat Collaborative Network’s second regional summit in Abuja.
Dr. Olabanji emphasized the importance of wheat as a global staple, noting Africa’s historical neglect of the crop, which has hindered self-sufficiency efforts. He credited interventions from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for promoting wheat production in Central and West Africa.
Highlighting the success of Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, he revealed that wheat production increased from 70,000 metric tons to 450,000 metric tons in three years, with yields rising from 1.5 to 2.5 tons per hectare. Despite this progress, he expressed that Nigeria could have achieved a higher self-sufficiency rate if not for inconsistent policies.
Dr. Olabanji praised the WECA Wheat initiative, which collaborates with scientists to develop high-yield varieties, stating that the Nigerian government is committed to expanding wheat cultivation. “Through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, we cultivated about 250,000 hectares of wheat last season and plan to double this in 2024-2025,” he noted.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that with a planned increase in production area and average yields of 3.5 tons per hectare, Nigeria could reach its 70% self-sufficiency target by 2029.
Dr. Toyin Adetunji, a value chain specialist at TAAT, echoed these sentiments, discussing the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa initiative, which aims to increase agricultural productivity and support 40 million farmers across the continent. She highlighted successful examples from Sudan and Ethiopia, emphasizing the importance of strong government support and effective policies in achieving these goals.
Both speakers underscored the urgency for African nations to achieve wheat self-sufficiency, particularly in light of global challenges such as the ongoing impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The AfDB has committed $1.5 billion to support agricultural development, with Nigeria receiving $134 million to aid in its wheat transformation journey. Collaboration, innovation, and policy reform will be crucial as Nigeria seeks to unlock its agricultural potential.
