Nigeria targets food security through fertilizer and livestock expansion

The Nigerian government is implementing several strategic initiatives to bolster the nation's agricultural and livestock sectors. Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari announced that early fertilizer procurement under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative has already saved the country ₦61.58 billion. The government is targeting 1.1 million metric tonnes of fertilizer for the 2026 farming season to enhance food security.

To support this, the government is pursuing mechanization through the National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and Investment Strategy, which includes plans for a mega tractor assembly plant capable of producing between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually. Additionally, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones are being developed to link production with markets.

In parallel, the Ministry of Livestock Development aims to expand the livestock economy from its current $32 billion value to $92 billion within five years. This growth is intended to drive the sector's contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to approximately 10 per cent. The Nigerian Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy will serve as the framework for this transformation, focusing on production, processing, and market access.