Nigeria Food Security: Farming Systems, Challenges, and Strategies

Subsistence farming

Farming where crops and livestock are produced mainly for the farmer's family to eat.

Commercial farming

Farming where crops and livestock are grown to sell for profit.

Arable farming

Growing crops.

Pastoral farming

Rearing animals.

Mixed farming

Growing crops and keeping animals on the same farm.

Inputs (farming systems)

Resources put into farming such as seeds, fertiliser, labour, machinery and capital.

Processes (farming systems)

Activities carried out on the farm such as ploughing, planting, irrigating and harvesting.

Outputs (farming systems)

Products from farming such as crops, milk, meat and profit.

Global pattern of calorie intake

Higher in developed countries and generally lower in many Sub-Saharan African countries.

Reasons calorie intake varies globally

Income levels, climate, technology, conflict, government policy and infrastructure.

Reasons for increased global food production

Population growth, rising incomes, increased meat consumption and demand for biofuels.

Strategies to increase food supply

Irrigation, fertilisers, high-yield variety seeds (HYVs), mechanisation, GM crops and land reform.

Globalisation of food supply

Food grown in one country and sold in another.

Impacts of globalisation of food supply

Greater food choice year-round but increased food miles, environmental impact and dependence on imports.

Location of Nigeria

A country in West Africa bordering Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, with a southern coastline on the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria's population issue

Very large and rapidly growing population of over 200 million.

Climate in Nigeria

Tropical climate with wet and dry seasons and risk of drought in the north.

Main food crops in Nigeria

Cassava, yam, maize, rice, millet and sorghum.

Physical causes of food insecurity in Nigeria

Drought, desertification in the north, flooding and climate change.

Human causes of food insecurity in Nigeria

Rapid population growth, poverty, poor infrastructure, conflict (Boko Haram) and oil pollution in the Niger Delta.

How conflict affects food supply in Nigeria

Farmers are forced to flee, farmland is abandoned and markets are disrupted.

Desertification in northern Nigeria

The spread of desert conditions due to overgrazing, deforestation and climate change.

Problems caused by food insecurity in Nigeria

Malnutrition, stunted growth in children, disease, continued poverty and rising food prices.

Irrigation projects in Nigeria

River basin development schemes such as the Kano River Project to increase dry-season farming.

Great Green Wall project

Planting trees across the Sahel to reduce desertification.

Improved seeds and fertilisers in Nigeria

Used to increase crop yields such as rice and maize.

Government support programmes in Nigeria

Subsidies and loans provided to farmers to increase food production.

Evaluation of Nigeria's food strategies (successes)

Increased rice production and reduced imports in some years.

Evaluation of Nigeria's food strategies (challenges)

Climate change, insecurity, corruption and poor transport links still limit food security.

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