Agriculture was once the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, it played a pivotal role in the country’s prosperity during the 1950s and 60s. However, the ascendancy of the oil sector diminished its prominence.
The National Bureau of Statistics reveals that in 2022, agriculture contributed the least to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for 23.69 percent, in contrast to industry’s 30.7 percent and services’ commanding 44.04 percent.
This article delves into the evolving landscape of agricultural production, offering an economic perspective using data gathered from the World Bank, the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- Cassava – estimated annual production of 63 million metric tons
Nigeria is the highest producer of cassava in the world with 63 million metric tons in 2021. The Observatory of Economic Complexity revealed that Nigeria exported $1.02M in Cassava and secured its place as the 59th largest exporter of Cassava in the world.
The leading producing states are Benue and Kogi. Other regional leading states are Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta in the South-South. Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo in the South West, and Enugu and Imo in the South East Nigeria.
- Yam – estimated annual production of 37 million tonnes
According to the World Bank, Nigeria is the highest producer of yams in the world.
The country’s production contributed to the two third world’s yearly production. The IITA put Nigeria’s yearly yam production as 37 million tonnes. The highest-producing states are Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross-River, and Oyo.
- Rice – estimated annual production of 8.3 million metric tons
Nigeria is the highest producer of rice in Africa with 8.3 million metric tons produced in 2021.
The rice market value for the year was $3.5 million, and the local production amounted to $2.3 million, leaving a $1.2 million vacuum filled by imports. The major rice-producing states are Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Taraba, Niger and Benue.
- Cocoa- estimated annual production of 90, 000 tonnes
Cocoa is a sustainable cash crop that has been used to uplift the country’s GDP in the past, its end product like chocolate is widely celebrated across the globe.
According to the International Cocoa Organization, Nigeria is the fourth producer of cocoa globally and the third in Africa with over 290,000 tonnes in 2022 behind Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Ghana.
The highest-producing state is Ondo state with 80, 000 tonnes annually, other states are Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Abia, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom States.
- Wheat – estimated annual production of 36, 943 metric tonnes
Wheat is one of the biggest agricultural markets in Nigeria with a consumption demand of 5.85 million metric tonnes, a market value of 2.5 billion dollars but a local production rate of 36,943 tonnes.
This huge gap has made Nigeria one of the world’s top wheat importers to meet her mining capacity of 8.2 million metric tonnes. The major wheat-producing states are Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Gombe State.
- Corn – estimated annual production of 2.7 Million tonnes
Nigeria is the 13th highest-producing country globally and the second in Africa with 12.7 million tonnes in 2022. According to the USDA, the lead-producing states are Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Borno and Plateau.
- Palm Kernel estimated annual production of 1. 4 million tonnes
Nigeria is the highest producer of palm oil in Africa with 1.4 million metric tonnes. However, the country is the exporter of the product behind the Benin Republic, Côte d Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Togo. The major leading states are Edo, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Delta, and Ondo
- Sorghum estimated annual production of 6.7 million tonnes
Nigeria is the leading producer of Sorghum in Africa with 6.7 million tonnes in 2022. The major producing states are Kano, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger.
- Groundnut estimated annual production of 4.2 million tonnes
Groundnut is one of the oldest cash crops in Nigeria. Since its discovery in 1912, Nigeria has played a significant role in its production by emerging as the first in Africa and 3rd in the world. The production cut across 19 states however, the six highest-producing states are Niger, Kano, Benue, Kaduna, Borno, and Bauchi
- Millet – 2 million metric tonnes
The millet consumption market in Nigeria was estimated to be 6 million metric tonnes in 2022. However, the country’s 2 million productions left a gap of 4 million tonnes to be filled by imports. The leading states are Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Kaduna, and Jigawa.
In Conclusion, Nigeria dominates global agricultural production across various crops. In 2021, it led cassava with 63 million metric tons and ranked 59th in exports. The country also topped yam production at 37 million tonnes, rice at 8.3 million metric tons, and cocoa at 290,000 tonnes.
While excelling in sorghum (6.7 million tonnes) and millet (2 million tonnes), challenges persist in wheat, corn, and palm oil, where it’s a leading African producer but a net importer. Cattle, particularly prized, reached 13,435,647, reflecting the nation’s diverse agricultural landscape.
List of 3 cash crops per state
| States | Crops | |
| Abia | Pumpkin, Cocoyam | |
| Adamawa | Cotton, Beans, Sugar Cane | |
| Akwa Ibom | Palm Kernel, Cassava | |
| Anambra | Cassava, Yam | |
| Bauchi | Sugar cane, guinea corn, Onions | |
| Bayelsa | Sugar cane | |
| Benue | Cassava, Soybeans, Yam, Orange | |
| Borno | Beans, Maize, Groundnut, Guinea Corn, Sesame Seed | |
| Cross River | Cassava, Cocoa, Banana | |
| Delta | Palm Kernel, Cassava, Yam | |
| Ebonyi | Cocoyam, Cassava, Yam, Rice | |
| Edo | Cashew, Melon, Vegetables, Pineapple | |
| Ekiti | Cashew, Yam, Cassava, Plantain | |
| Enugu | Cocoyam, Yam | |
| Gombe | Sugar Cane, Tomato, Beans | |
| Imo | Melon, Pam Kernel, Garden egg | |
| Jigawa | Millet, pepper, Sesame Seed | |
| Kaduna | Maize, Soybeans, Millet, Rice, Tomatoes, Ginger, Garlic | |
| Kano | Groundnut, Guinea corn, Rice, Tomatoes | |
| Katsina | Cotton, Guinea corn, Onions | |
| Kebbi | Rice, Millet | |
| Kogi | Cashew, Cassava, Yam | |
| Kwara | Cassava, Rice, Corn | |
| Lagos | Vegetables | |
| Nasarawa | Yam, Rice, Cassava, Ginger, Garlic | |
| Niger | Beans, Maize, Soybeans, Groundnut, Rice, Yam, Melon, Cashew | |
| Ogun | Kolanut, Cassava | |
| Ondo | Cocoyam, Cashew, Cocoa, Kolanut, Banana | |
| Osun | Cocoa, Kolanut, Orange | |
| Oyo | Cassava, Orange, Pineapple | |
| Plateau | Potatoes, Corn, Guinea corn | |
| Rivers | Pineapple | |
| Sokoto | Millet, Sugar cane, Pepper | |
| Taraba | Yam, Rice | |
| Yobe | Beans, Millet, Groundnut, Guinea Corn | |
| Zamfara | Beans, Guinea corn | |
| FCT Abuja | Cashew, Yam |
