Overcoming policy, finance, and technology supply constraints to unleash small-scale irrigation in Nigeria

Nigeria is suffering from high levels of food insecurity, with 25 million people at risk of hunger and 34% of children under 5 stunted (low height for age) due to lack of access to nutritious food among other reasons. In 2023, the government declared a state of emergency for food security.

High food price inflation, which averaged more than 30% in 2024, is a major contributor to the food security problem. Climate-driven extreme weather events have played a role in pushing prices up: Recent storms and floods affected most of Nigeria’s states, destroying crops. Other factors are persistently high prices for agricultural inputs including fertilizer and elevated fuel costs for transportation of inputs and irrigation of produce.