Paddy rice, maize, soybean production to decline 13% due to high cost of fertilizers and climate.

The average production rate of paddy rice, maize and soybean – three major staples in Nigeria’s local diet – is projected to decline by a combined average of 13 percent due to high cost of fertilisers and climate conditions.
According to the AFEX 2024 Wet Season report, maize production in Africa’s most populous nation is projected to decline in 2024 by 5.6 percent while paddy rice is projected to fall by 2.6 percent and soybean by 4.8 percent.
“Maize production is projected to decline by 5.6 percent, resulting in an estimated total output of 11 million metric tons,” the report says.
The report notes that this decline can be attributed to several key factors, including a reduction in the cultivated land area, limited fertiliser usage, and adverse climatic conditions.
It notes that the cultivated land area for maize shrank by over 3 percent due to rising production costs during the planting season, prompting many farmers to reduce the size of their farms.
Findings have revealed that prices of maize have increased by 89.96 percent from N480,000 for a metric ton to currently about N910,000, influencing the prices of chicken feeds in the markets which have doubled in one year.
“Maize is a critical crop for food security across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it plays an essential role in both the national economy and local diets,” the report says.
Maize, which is predominantly cultivated by smallholder farmers, is a significant source of food and cash to Nigerians.
However, owing to high demand for both consumption, livestock feed and industrial processing, its consumption is currently at par with production, which according to the AFEX report, highlights the need for increased production.
“Climate change has further worsened the situation, with prolonged dry spells in states like Taraba and flooding in states such as Kaduna significantly hindering maize production and availability across these regions.”
source: businessday.ng

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