Nigeria’s food trade has approached N5 trillion under the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), yet many farmers continue to incur losses.

Imports alone were valued at about N4.5 trillion, while exports of staple crops like maize and rice reached nearly N5 trillion, according to the Nigeria Customs Service. Despite these figures, farmers reported losses: maize cultivation cost N726,000 per hectare on average, generating N685,440 in revenue, while rice cultivation showed similar shortfalls. Production declines followed, with maize output down 2.8% and rice falling nearly 8%.

Experts cite high production costs, a weak naira, and poor post-harvest infrastructure as key factors limiting profitability. Launched in May 2025, NAPM aims to coordinate agricultural policy and improve decision-making to support farmers and stabilize food supply. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.