OPINION: Prioritizing Smallholder Farming Over Commercial Farming In Nigeria.

As we celebrate World Food Day today, it is fitting that Nigeria rethinks its strategies for revamping agriculture.

There is no gainsaying the fact that despite decades-long significant government investment in promoting commercial farming in the country, the results have been largely sub-optimal, failing to significantly improve her food security, rural employment, or economic growth. A shift towards supporting smallholder farming—the backbone of Nigeria’s agriculture—may present a more sustainable and inclusive path to agricultural development.

Nigeria has over 33 million smallholder farmers, making up the majority of the agricultural workforce. Supporting them directly impacts rural livelihoods and boosts food security.

With access to improved inputs, training, and finance, smallholder farmers can double or triple yields. Countries like Kenya, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India, to mention a few examples from developing countries, have demonstrated the effectiveness of empowering smallholders in driving agricultural growth.

Smallholder farming is more environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, benefiting rural communities, women, and youth.

Between 2016 and 2021, Nigeria invested well over ₦200bn through initiatives such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), and other commercial farming projects.
The ₦13bn on commercial rice farming and ₦10bn on cassava farming have resulted in marginal gains, with projects plagued by inefficiencies and lack of access to rural infrastructure.

Studies show that investing in smallholder farming can yield better outcomes per Naira spent compared to large-scale commercial farms, especially in job creation, food security, and poverty alleviation.

Reinvigorating farm extension services, imposing better coordination and supervision of farming practices in the rural areas as well as redirecting a portion of government spending directly towards smallholder farmers—through subsidies for seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and training—can deliver better outcomes, including higher food production, economic empowerment, and long-term sustainability.

Chris Echikwu is a retired General Manager of Nigeria Commodity Exchange.

Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.