Nigeria has made strides toward achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production, currently reaching approximately 10 percent. The country aims to increase this figure to 70 percent within the next five years.
Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, the former executive director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, shared these insights during the second regional summit of the West and Central Africa Wheat Collaborative Network in Abuja on Wednesday.
He emphasized the historical context of wheat production in Africa, noting that while wheat is a staple food globally, it has not been prioritized in Africa, leading to challenges in achieving self-sufficiency.
Olabanji acknowledged the support from international organizations such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in enhancing wheat production across Central and West Africa.
He pointed out that a pivotal moment for Nigeria's agricultural transformation was the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which significantly increased national wheat production.
He provided a compelling case study, stating that prior to this agenda, Nigeria's wheat production was only 70,000 metric tons.
However, within three years of implementing the agenda, production surged to 450,000 metric tons, with productivity improving from 1.5 to 2.5 tons per hectare. Olabanji reported that Nigeria has now reached an approximate 10 percent self-sufficiency in wheat production thanks to ongoing interventions from AfDB through various projects.
He praised initiatives like the WECA Wheat initiative, which focuses on developing high-yield varieties such as Bulog 100 and Noma, achieving average yields of 4.5 to 6 tonnes per hectare.
The Nigerian government has shown commitment by allocating substantial land for wheat cultivation. Olabanji noted that under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme supported by AfDB, around 250,000 hectares were cultivated last season, with plans for an additional 250,000 hectares across 16 states in the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
