Nigeria’s corn production has reached its lowest point in 14 years, with the total landmass dedicated to corn fields shrinking significantly.
Data from the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that the area under harvest for the 2024/2025 season is just 5.1 million hectares, marking the smallest expanse since the 2010/2011 season, according to Bloomberg.
The decline is largely attributed to increasing insecurity and soaring input costs, which have discouraged many farmers from cultivating the crop.
Despite these challenges, Katsina State, Nigeria’s second-largest corn-producing state saw a notable improvement in yields.
According to the Mantle Labs Crop Conditions Index, which uses satellite data and AI to monitor crops, corn yields in Katsina reached their highest levels since 2019 during the second week of August.
Elsewhere in the country, crop health has remained stable or experienced slight declines, reflecting the uneven impact of the challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The CEO of Mantle Labs, Jon Pierre said “Nigeria has been steadily losing corn acreage to other crops and also due to challenges such as high input costs and insecurity in agricultural region.
“However, corn production looks set to be on par with last year as a rebound in yields makes up for reduced planting.”
This report further highlights the significance of Nigeria’s stable corn production, especially in the context of regional challenges like droughts in Ghana and Southern Africa.
Improved yields could help ease malnutrition and provide some relief from high food inflation, which hit 34% in June 2024.
This stability in Nigeria’s corn output is crucial for both local food security and economic stability.
