Nigeria continues to spend an estimated $10 billion annually on food imports despite ongoing efforts to boost local agricultural production, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has revealed.
The disclosure was made by Dr. Godwin Atser, country Director of SAA Nigeria, during the organisation’s 2026 Annual Stakeholders Workshop held in Abuja to mark its 40th anniversary.
Atser noted that the country’s heavy reliance on imported commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar, fish, and tomato paste highlights persistent gaps in domestic food production.
He attributed the situation largely to insufficient production capacity and inadequate access to modern farming technologies.
According to him, improving agricultural extension services is critical to addressing these challenges, as many farmers lack the technical support needed to increase productivity.
Atser pointed out that Nigeria currently has only one extension agent for about 10,000 farmers, a ratio he described as far below what is required to transform the sector.
He explained that the workshop, themed SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale,” was designed to assess progress made under the organisation’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan.
The event also provided a platform for stakeholders to evaluate achievements, share knowledge, and develop strategies for future agricultural development.
Atser emphasized that SAA has spent over three decades supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector through initiatives aimed at improving productivity, strengthening extension systems, and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.
He added that the organisation remains committed to promoting sustainable, market-driven, and nutrition-focused agricultural practices.
He also highlighted emerging challenges affecting the sector, including climate change, population growth, and economic pressures, which require coordinated and innovative solutions.
In a keynote address, Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, underscored the importance of smallholder farmers to the country’s food security.
He noted that agriculture accounts for approximately 34 percent of Nigeria’s workforce and contributes about 25 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Hideo stressed that increasing mechanisation, reducing post-harvest losses, and improving market access are essential steps toward boosting agricultural productivity.
He also commended the Sasakawa Africa Association for its long-standing contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural development, describing its work as impactful and transformative.
The event brought together key stakeholders in the agricultural sector to chart a path toward reducing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and strengthening local food systems.
