According to a new report by Veriv Africa, a research and advisory firm, escalating insecurity in rural areas—particularly conflicts between farmers and herders, as well as widespread kidnappings—is significantly threatening Nigeria’s food production and long-term food security.

The report, which is based on a food price baseline survey conducted in February 2025, draws insights from over 500 smallholder farmers in five key agricultural states—Ondo, Kano, Niger, Kaduna, and Benue. It underscores the increasing impact of violence on farming communities, with insecurity being ranked as one of the top challenges faced by rural farmers, second only to limited access to finance.

While many farmers have benefited financially in the short term from high crop prices, over half are deeply concerned about the future of agriculture in Nigeria. Their concerns are driven by worsening rural insecurity, which disrupts farming operations, forces people to flee, and limits the movement of goods to markets.

The report also reveals a concerning lack of financial support, with 60% of farmers using personal savings to fund their operations. Many farmers work on small plots of land, depend on family labor, and are growing increasingly vulnerable to disruptions caused by conflict and climate events.

Market data from the survey revealed the prices of key crops: cocoa at ₦110,000 per 50kg bag, sesame at ₦102,305, rice at ₦43,750, yam at ₦39,423, corn at ₦36,309, and tomatoes at ₦12,500. While these prices highlight the economic potential of Nigeria’s agriculture, they also underscore the challenges faced by farmers who are unable to fully profit from their harvests due to insecurity and poor infrastructure.

The report concludes that securing rural areas is critical to sustaining food production, fostering investment in agriculture, and protecting the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.