Reforming Nigeria's land acquisition policies and leveraging technology are critical steps to empower the nation's smallholder farmers and boost food security, according to a leading agricultural consultant.
Core Challenges: From Insecurity to Outdated Tools
Eyitayo Raji, a member of both the Association of Agricultural Consultants Society of America and the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, highlighted a severe array of obstacles facing farmers. She pointed to widespread insecurity, noting that over 78,000 farmers in Northern Nigeria have abandoned their farmlands due to violence from insurgents and bandits.
Beyond insecurity, Raji, who has worked with over 200,000 smallholder farmers, identified systemic issues. Many farmers still rely on hoes and cutlasses, lack documentation for formal credit, and misuse pesticides. For cash crops like cocoa, she noted that the average tree is 40–45 years old and past its prime, with many farms operating on inherited, outdated practices.
Prescribed Solutions: Policy, Partnerships, and Precision Tech
Raji outlined a multi-faceted approach to revolutionise the sector. Firstly, she urged the government to reform the land tenure system and dismantle gender barriers to enable more women to own land. She also advocated for stronger public-private partnerships that link producers directly to processors and markets.
"Tech is a game-changer," Raji declared. She emphasised that precision agriculture tools like drones, IoT sensors, and GPS can dramatically improve efficiency. "Sensors can monitor soil health and crop growth, allowing farmers to apply water or fertiliser only where needed, minimising waste and maximising output," she explained during her chat with The Guardian on January 16, 2026.
She called on tech companies to provide real-time data on crop planning and market forecasting, and for NGOs to partner with the government to fund grants and extension services.
Proven Methods to Increase Yield and Income
Drawing from her years of practice, Raji listed factors that have consistently proven effective:
- Good agronomic practices and access to hybrid seeds.
- Correct use of inputs and access to pricing information.
- Value addition through drying machines and produce aggregation for bulk sales.
- Subsidising inputs to improve profit margins.
She lamented the value chain imbalance, citing research that while Africa produces over 75% of the world's cocoa, it earns barely 2% of the $100 billion chocolate market—a pattern repeated with other crops where farmers get the smallest share of the consumer price.
A Personal Mission for Agricultural Transformation
The University of Ilorin graduate traced her passion to childhood, accompanying her father, a plant breeder, on farm visits. "I noticed that most of the farmers we saw lived below the poverty line... yet they work so hard," she recalled. This drove her to work across 32 Nigerian states after graduation, focusing on adding value to produce.
Her work at Saroafrica International involved training over 20,000 farmers on pricing and agronomic practices. She has also focused on promoting Fairtrade practices in cocoa farming, crucial for Nigeria as a top-three global producer.
Raji's final message underscores the urgency of integrated action: combining policy reform, technological adoption, and fair market access is essential to secure the livelihoods of Nigeria's smallholder farmers and unlock the sector's full potential.
