Maize production in Nigeria.
Corn, botanical name Zea mays is one of the crops with the highest demand in the world. Many people classify it as the number one grain in the world because its extensive use as the primary source of calories in feed formulation for animals.
According to FAO, the demand for it almost hit 3 Billion Metric Tonnes in 2019. This is because its wide variety of uses industrially, serves as major staple food for families and because of its importance in producing livestock feed.
The global production of maize in the world was about 1,112.01 million MT leaving about a deficit of 1,9 million MT.
In that same year, Africa had a total production volume of about 90MMT and Nigeria averaged production volume of about 11million MT making it the 2nd largest producer in the continent, after South Africa with 16 000 000 MT and Ethiopia the 3rd with 8,400,000MT
Major export destinations include Canada, Ireland, India, China, Netherlands, Switzerland.
The local demand in Nigeria is as high as 12MMT excluding exports leaving a deficit of over 2 million Metric tons and this is one of the many reasons why we are keen on farmers having all the quality inputs and agrochemicals they need to increase production.
The global market is volatile because of the current pandemic and as a result corn prices are unstable. However unstable, prices have shot up with some markets in Nigeria recording over 30% increase.
As at 2019, Global Average Price was NGN186 but now prices have shot up to about NGN221. In Nigeria some markets sell as high as NGN150 per kg but with the new planting season, prices might drop because of an increase in supply.
The national average yield per hectare is 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare. During our Farm operations at Thrive Agric in 2019, we averaged about 4.5 MT/ha in corn production, which is about an 80% increase compared to the National Average, with one of our farmers harvesting as much as 7.8 MT per hectare of farmland.
Of course, we are not resting on our oars and we are pushing ourselves this coming farm cycle. The goal stays the same, to create an Africa that can feed itself and the world.
Corn is consumed in different forms in Nigeria. It is ground, fermented and locally processed into pap, popularly known as Ogi in the South West, Akamu in the East and Koko in the north(sometimes made from millet.). This is a regular breakfast for lots of Nigerians especially when paired with the Legendary Akara.
It is also industrially processed into Custard powder but las las pap na pap. It is highly demanded in Nigeria as a staple food, as a raw material in the brewery industries and Livestock feed manufacturing Industry.
In the confectionery and food industry, it is used to produce corn syrup, corn oil, cornflour and corn flakes.
The cob is boiled or roasted and eaten as a staple food and it is safe to say, if you’ve not stopped by the roadside to buy roasted or boiled corn, then your “Nigerianess” should be questioned.(emoji or gif) Do you like your corn Roasted or boiled?
The Top producing states in Nigeria include Kaduna, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Anambra, Benue, Kano, Kogi, Plateau, Kwara, Nassarawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Yobe, Ogun, Osun and Oyo.
We are always looking for ways to make Agriculture more profitable for farmers by capturing more value for them. That is why we cut off the long line of middlemen and link them directly to premium markets where they get the best prices for their commodities.
There’s still a large potential to increase production in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. This is why we are on this journey to create an Africa that feeds itself and the world by supporting local farmer communities all across Nigeria.
A prosperous Africa begins with you, let’s do more for our Farmers. Visit thriveagric.com to get started. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see our work improving the lives of local farmers in Nigeria and how we are building to ensure food security in Africa, one farmer at a time.
