Published 2024-08-31 — Updated on 2025-04-02
Versions
- 2025-04-02 (2)
- 2024-08-31 (1)
Keywords
- wheat production,
- Constraints,
- Opportunities,
- Breeding,
- Irrigation
How to Cite
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose – This paper reviewed the history of wheat consumption, importation and the challenges of local production in Nigeria. It further suggests how the challenges can be overcome.
Design/Methodology/Approach – Review and analysis of general knowledge
Findings - The main issue affecting domestic wheat production in Nigeria is environmental incompatibility— the fact that wheat, being a tempered crop, requires cold climates during the growing season to thrive especially during the critical developmental stage between tillering and grain filling. This has limited the wheat growing season in Nigeria, to the cool harmattan period starting from November to March, and the wheat growing areas in Nigeria, along latitude 10°N to 14°N. Unfortunately, the harmattan period itself is also challenged by the absence of a rainy season, which typically starts after the period from April to September with unfavourable high temperature and humidity.
The peculiar situation is like in other tropical countries like Egypt, Ethiopia and the warm and humid Bangladesh. I recommend the adoption of molecular breeding technologies like Marker Assisted Selection, Genotyping, Phenotyping, Speed breeding e.t.c. to strengthen the breeding processes and shorten the seeds generation time.
Nigerian government policies over the years have centred on accelerating primary production (farming) instead of focusing on the addressing the main issue, through research and development of cultivars that will be adaptable in Nigeria’s heat-stressed growing environment, build more irrigation areas along the harmattan longitude, strengthen extension services to ensure farmers adherence to Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) and ease farmers access to market for fair prices. As a result, the national average ton per hectare output is abysmally 1.3 MT, prepared irrigation area is less than 10% of planned area and a near-complete disconnect between farmers and the off-taking flour milling industry, who are currently fully reliant on imported wheat.