Agriculture
Vision: Farms that feed the nation, safely and profitably, guided by the same forecasts and lab tests any farmer in the world can use.
Agriculture is already the backbone of the Nigerian economy and of millions of livelihoods. The question is not whether we farm, but whether farming makes people prosperous, keeps food safe, and feeds the industries we want to build.
Where we stand
Established facts. Every one has a numbered source below.
Agriculture makes up 27.8% of Nigeria's economy, according to the National Bureau of Statistics' 2024 GDP figures, released after the economy was rebased to 2019 prices.[1]
NBS figures as reported by Africa Check, August 2025.
About one in three Nigerian workers (33.5% in 2025) is employed in agriculture.[2]
A World Bank modelled estimate, not a census count.
Nigeria is the world's largest cassava producer: 59.2 million tonnes in 2019, according to FAO data.[3]
2019 is the latest year covered by the fact-check we cite.
Aflasafe, a biocontrol that uses native non-toxic strains of the aflatoxin fungus, has consistently cut aflatoxin in maize and groundnut by 80 to 90%. USDA-ARS first developed the approach, and IITA adapted it for African farms, with field testing in Nigeria.[4]
What we're building
Vision. Not true yet, and all of it is within reach.
Forecasts in every language
Farmers plan planting, spraying and harvest with hyperlocal weather and crop-disease forecasts, delivered by SMS and voice in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin and English.
Safe food as the default
Grain is tested for mycotoxins before it leaves the farm gate, so safe food is what every market sells, not a premium few can afford.
Crops that feed factories
Cassava, maize and sorghum become starch, feed, flour and ethanol in nearby processing plants, instead of spoiling between farm and market.
Extension as a respected career
A trained extension agent within reach of every farming community, backed by a soil, seed and plant-disease lab in every state.
Where we start
Proposed first moves, small enough to begin this year.
Open risk dashboards
Publish free, state-level weather and crop-disease risk tools for Nigerian planting seasons. We are building the first of these now, starting with a planting calendar.
Mycotoxin testing days
Partner with cooperatives and university labs to run rapid aflatoxin and fumonisin testing at markets, and publish the results.
A diaspora agronomy bench
Match Nigerian plant scientists abroad with extension services at home for remote diagnosis of crop disease from photos and samples.
How you can help
Tell us what you know and what you can give. We'll reply personally.
Offer help with agriculture- Agronomists and plant pathologists
- Review our disease models, diagnose field problems, mentor extension agents.
- Data scientists and developers
- Help build forecast tools that work on basic phones and slow networks.
- Cooperatives and farmer groups
- Pilot new tools and tell us what actually helps on the farm.
- Processors, labs and funders
- Host testing days, buy tested grain, or fund a state lab.
Sources
We checked every link and figure on the date shown. If you find a newer or better source, tell us and we'll update the page.
- 1.
Africa Check. Factsheet: Nigeria rebases its economy again. Here's what sets it apart, 15 August 2025.Accessed 10 October 2026.
- 2.
TheGlobalEconomy.com, World Bank data. Nigeria: Employment in agriculture (% of total employment).Accessed 10 October 2026.
- 3.
International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). FACTCHECK: Is Nigeria largest producer of cassava in the world?, March 2021.Accessed 10 October 2026.
- 4.
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Aflatoxin management.Accessed 10 October 2026.