Nigeria Faces Looming Food Crisis in 2026 as Farmers Threaten to Quit Agriculture
Nigeria may be on the brink of a major food crisis in 2026, as farmers across the North-Central and North-West regions warn that rising production costs, insecurity, and post-harvest losses are making farming increasingly unprofitable. From Niger to Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna states, small and medium-scale farmers report that despite government directives to lower food prices, escalating costs of fertiliser, fuel, and labour are driving many to consider leaving agriculture altogether.
Rice and maize farmers describe the situation as dire. Ibrahim Abdullahi, a rice farmer from Niger State, explained that input costs have tripled in the past two years, leaving many farmers in debt. “If this continues, many farmers will simply walk away from their farms. That’s when the real food crisis will hit,” he said. Simeon Dabeng added that insecurity and inadequate government support are further worsening the challenges, making sustained production nearly impossible.
Farmers are calling out the federal government for issuing price reduction directives without providing tangible support. Bashir, another rice farmer from Niger State, emphasized that without subsidies, affordable inputs, and improved rural infrastructure, efforts to lower food prices cannot succeed. Maize farmer Patience Ayuba echoed this concern, highlighting that many young people are no longer interested in farming due to the lack of profitability and protection.
The collapse of previous support schemes, such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, has compounded the problem. Farmers who once relied on these initiatives to expand production are now reporting heavy losses and declining yields. Security concerns—including banditry, kidnappings, and herder-farmer conflicts—have forced many to abandon farmlands, while others pay large sums for private security to continue farming.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 34.7 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity during the next lean season in 2026 if urgent interventions are not implemented. Experts stress that without subsidies, credit facilities, mechanization, and rural security measures, Nigeria risks one of its worst food crises in recent history. Farmers urge the government to act swiftly, warning that next year’s harvest may be the smallest the country has seen in decades.
source: nairametrics