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Ayuba Idris

Investing in Nigeria’s Smallholder Farmers for a Food-Secure Future

Recognizing both the incredible potential of smallholder farmers and the persistent challenges they face, our Nigeria program convened key stakeholders for a national dialogue on food security in Abuja. Titled “Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap,” the event brought together government leaders, policymakers, agricultural innovators, development partners, and farmers.

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At just 25 years old, Ayuba Idris is already a seasoned farmer. His journey began at age 13, when he worked alongside his father on the family’s farm in Niger State, Nigeria. At just 17, Ayuba took the bold step to cultivate his plot of land. While he initially struggled to afford the upfront costs of farm inputs, he chose to join the One Acre Fund program to access the support he needed. 

Today, he grows maize and yams on his farm. His efforts haven’t just put food on the table for his parents and siblings; they have also allowed him to purchase a motorbike, a vital tool for earning extra income, transporting goods, and accessing markets. 

Ayuba Idris
“I decided to start farming so that I can support myself. I had to rely on farming as my occupation. In the future, even if I get a job, I will still keep farming to earn extra income”

Ayuba Idris

Farmer, Nigeria

Ayuba is one of millions of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Nigeria’s food system, producing over 80% of the country’s food [AFDB]. Despite the resilience and determination of farmers like Ayuba, they face challenges [World Bank]: limited access to high-quality inputs, scarce financial support, changing weather patterns, and constrained markets.

One Acre Fund began working in Nigeria in 2018, serving just 150 farmers in Niger State. Today, we work with over 300,000 farmers across Niger, Kwara, and Nasarawa States. Through this journey, one thing has always been clear: farmers are among the hardest-working individuals in our communities. When equipped with quality farm inputs and practical training in effective farming techniques, just like Ayuba, they have the potential not only to feed their families but to produce a surplus that nourishes entire communities and builds lasting prosperity.

Recognizing both the incredible potential of smallholder farmers and the persistent challenges they face, our Nigeria program convened over 200 key stakeholders for a national dialogue on food security in Abuja. Titled “Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap,” the event brought together government leaders, policymakers, agricultural innovators, development partners, and farmers. Together, we explored tangible ways to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural systems and support the farmers who form its backbone.

The dialogue unpacked Nigeria’s most pressing food security challenges and highlighted promising farmer-centered solutions, including improving access to inputs and finance, strengthening market linkages, and enabling supportive policy environments.

Bridging the input and credit gap

One of the most pressing concerns raised during the dialogue was the high cost of farming and the limited accessibility of essential inputs. Affordability and ease of access are critical. When farmers have to travel long distances or wait too long to get what they need, it delays planting, which in turn reduces the productivity of their harvests and incomes. And without access to affordable credit, many are unable to make the upfront investment required to farm at full potential.

Through our program in Nigeria, we are addressing this gap by establishing storefronts within walking distance of farming communities, making high-quality inputs and services easily accessible. We also offer credit options, allowing farmers to plant on time with flexible repayment options.

On average, farmers supported through One Acre Fund earn at least 40% more income on their land, empowering them to reinvest in their farms, support their families, and strengthen their communities.

“I am glad through One Acre Fund I was able to access input on credit and I can now farm on my own and progress”

Ayuba Idris

Farmer, Nigeria

Building resilience

Floods, droughts, and rising temperatures threaten the productivity and livelihoods of Nigeria’s smallholder farmers [World Bank]. These shocks are reducing crop yields, affecting livelihoods, and making it harder for families to put food on the table.

Practices like agroforestry allow farmers to improve soil fertility, prevent erosion, and build resilience to changing weather patterns. Farmers we work with in Nigeria have planted 9.5 million trees since 2018 and aim to plant a further 12.5 million trees in 2025.

But building resilience goes beyond adaptation to changing weather. Many farmers also face financial risk from relying heavily on just one or two staple crops. If prices fall or weather disrupts a crop, this could affect farmers. 

For Ayuba, diversifying from maize and yam farming into poultry allows him to earn additional income, not only cushioning him against market shocks but also expanding his economic resilience.

Strengthening markets and livelihoods

Farmers are often forced to sell their produce at the farm gate to middlemen at prices far below the fair market value. Without adequate price information, transport, or sufficient storage facilities; farmers in Nigeria often lack bargaining power. 

“When farmers can sell what they grow at the right price and time, they gain the confidence to invest in their farms, educate their children, and break the cycle of poverty,” says Emmanuel Bamgboye, our Nigeria Field Operations Lead.

Moving from dialogue to action

Ayuba’s story illustrates the potential that can be unlocked when farmers receive the support they need. 

But he and millions like him can’t do it alone. It is a shared mission calling for coordinated action across government ministries, private enterprises, research institutions, development organizations, and, most importantly, farming communities. Together, we can build a future where farming is not only a reliable source of food but a dignified and rewarding livelihood for every Nigerian farmer.

Read the full meeting report here

Countries

Nigeria