Presentation by prof. M.D. Magaji (ARCN, Nigeria) at Wheat for Food Security in Africa conference, Oct 8, 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

1. CURRENT STATUS OF
WHEAT RESEACH AND
PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA
– IMPLICATIONS FOR
FOOD SECURITY
BY
M. D. MAGAJI,
B. Y. ABUBAKAR AND
O.G. OLABANJI

2. Introduction
In Nigeria, wheat cultivation dates back to the
16th century, when wheat was cultivated on
small plots and pockets of inland valley soils
(fadama), using local cultivars that were tall
(1.2m), late maturing (150 DAS) and low
yielding (300 – 600 kg/ha).
Wheat is presently produced commercially in
Nigeria under irrigation conditions within
latitudes 10o – 14oN where night temperatures
during most of the growing period (November –
March) range from 15oC to 20oC MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 2

3. INTRODUCTION
The mean maximum temperature
ranges from 30o to 35oC during the
growing period of November to
March each year.
The wheat areas cover mainly
Sudan/Sahelian zones of Borno,
Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano,
Zamfara, Katsina , Sokoto, Kebbi
and Adamawa States MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 3

4. POLITICAL MAP OF NIGERIA
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 4

5. ectects
To increase wheat Production, there is the need to expand
areas under production and increase the yield of varieties
through breeding and management
Other potential avenue for increasing the area under wheat
production is production under rain-fed conditions on the
highland areas of the Country: Mambila-Plateau in
Taraba, Jos- Plateau in Plateau and Obudu in Cross
Rivers States, respectively.
• Rain-fed wheat on the highlands of Nigeria could increase
the much desired output as well as reduce production cost
to a greater extent and shorten the breeding cycle for
developing irrigated wheat varieties as two or more crops
can be grown annually under irrigated and A G A J I Efed. , 2 0 1 2
M rain T A L 5
conditions.

6. In s
Despite of the bright prospects and enormous potential of
wheat production in Nigeria, there are challenges such as,
changes in agricultural policies by different regimes, poor
marketing channels and inadequate remuneration to
farmers for their produce.
The first major government intervention in Nigeria’s
agricultural development was in 1959 when irrigation
schemes were developed in the Northern parts of the
country, which attracted appreciable number of farmers to
start to grow wheat on any scale; and scientists to develop
improved wheat varieties that are short, early maturing,
high yielding and of good bread-baking qualities to cope
with increasing local demand.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 6

7. Between 1971 and 1981, agricultural import bills, including
those of wheat increased 13-fold from US $192 million to
US $450 million.
Decline in wheat importation began in 1987 when
Government launched Accelerated Wheat Production
Programme (AWPP) in order to stimulate local production
and encourage backward integration, which gradually led
to outright ban on importation of wheat into the Country.
With the lifting of the ban on importation of wheat in 1993,
the production figures declined to 50,000 tones from a total
area of 40,000 hectares.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 7

8. Economic Importance of Wheat
 Wheat in Nigeria is mainly used for bakery and confectionery; it is also
used for domestic pastries and local dishes. Wheat meals are recently
gaining popularity in our restaurants. Recently, Nigerian grown wheat
is being imported by its neighboring countries of Cameroun and Chad
as cash crop.
 Since the ban on wheat importation in 1987, production figures
and area planted with wheat increased considerably.
During this period, wheat production increased from 400, 000 to 600,
000 tones of from 215, 000 hectares.
 The estimated local demand for wheat stands at about 3.7 million
metric tones annually, while its current annual production ranges from
50, 000 – 60, 000 metric tones.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 8

9. RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
• Some of the challenges confronting wheat
production in Nigeria are :
• Development of heat tolerant wheat
varieties that are high yielding
• Development of rain-fed wheat cultivars
that are tolerant/resistant to high
temperatures, humidity, pests and
diseases
• The promotion of wheat as a staple food
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 9
and market outlets for surplus produce.

10. Wheat research dates back to 1959, when
local germplasm materials were collected by
scientists .
These materials were evaluated and some
promising lines identified.
Introductions from CIMMYT were found to
be more promising than the local cultivars
as they matured early, were short in stature
and yielded higher (Table 1).
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 10

11. TABLE1: WHEAT VARIETIES RELEASED AND REGISTERED
IN NIGERIA
Name of Variety Original Name Origin/Sourc Developing Outstanding Year of
e Institution Characteristics Release
SAM-WHIT-1 TOUSSON CIMMYT, I.A.R., Zaria Wide adaptability & High 1965
Mexico yield.
SAM-WHIT-2 Florence Aurore 8193 - Do - - Do - High yield and good bread 1965
making qualities.
SAM-WHIT-3 Sonora-9.63 - Do - - Do - Good grain qualities and bread 1971
making qualities.
SAM-WHIT-4 LEEX (GB-55) - Do - - Do - High yielding, good bread 1971
making qualities
SAM-WHIT-5 Siette Cerros - Do - - Do - High yielding, general 1975
adaptability.
SAMWHIT-6 PAVON - Do_ -Do- High yield anfd quality 1976
LACRI-WHIT-1 SERI M82 - Do - LCRI, Maiduguri High yielding and good baking 1997
quality.
LACRI-WHIT-2 CEttia - Do - - Do - Early maturing, heat tolerant, 2005
high yielding and good baking
quality.
LACRI-WHIT-3 Linfen - Do - - Do - High yielding, golden yellow 2005
grain
LACRI-WHIT-4 Atilla /Gan/ Atilla - Do - - Do - Medium maturity, heat 2008
tolerant, high yielding and
good bread making quality A L . , 2 0 1 2
MAGAJI ET 11

12. Lake Chad Research Institute, in
collaboration with CIMMYT has
developed and released improved
wheat varieties that are early
maturing, heat tolerant, high
yielding and better bread baking
qualities (Table 2).
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 12

13. ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL ECONOMY
Serial Crop & Name Year of Yield potential Adoption rate
No release (t/ha) (%)
Wheat
1 LACRIWHT-1 (Seri-M82) 1997 3.0 45
2 LACRIWHT-2 (Cettia) 2005 4.0 40
3 LACRIWHT-3 Linfen) 2005 4.0 35
4 LACRIWHT-4 (Atilla-Gan- 2008 4.5 50
Attila)
5 Rainfed Wheat (YD’S’) Proposed 2012 2.5
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 13

14. COLLABORATORS
• CIMMYT: Wheat Germplasm exchange
• ICARDA : Barley Germplasm exchange
• ICRISAT: Pearl Millet Germplasm Exchange and
Capacity Building
• NARIs: IAR, NSPRI, IAR&T: Conduct and
supervise multi-locational research projects.
• ADPs/CBARDP: Extension services delivery
• Universities: Conduct and supervise multi-locational
research
• NACGRAB: Registration and release of new
varieties.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 14

15. CETTIA SERI M82
SERI M 82 CETTIA ATILLA GAN ATILLA
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 15

16. WHEAT PRODUCTION TREND
Periods
Periods Areas cultivated Yield
Areas cultivated Yield Total production
Total production Consumption
Consumption
(ha)
(ha) (kg/ha)
(kg/ha) (MT)
(MT) (MT)
(MT)
Early
Early Small plots ofof
Small plots 300-600
300-600
2000BC Fadama
2000BC Fadama
< < 1987 25,000
1987 25,000 2000
2000 50,000
50,000
1988-92 215,000
1988-92 215,000 2700
2700 400,000-600,000
400,000-600,000
2005
2005 70,000
70,000 1250
1250 85,000
85,000
2006
2006 63,000
63,000 1130
1130 71,000
71,000
2007
2007 40,000
40,000 1250
1250 50,000
50,000 3.7 million
3.7 million
Source FAO 2006 & USDA 2007
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 16

17. MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 17

18. AVAILABLE TRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Serial Crop & Name
Crop & Name Yield
Yield potential (t/ha)
No potential (t/ha)
WheatWheat
1 1 LACRIWHT-4 (Atilla-Gan-Attila) 4.5
LACRIWHT-4
2 Borlogue 5
4.5
Pearl millet
(Atilla-Gan-Attila)
3 LCICMV-3 (SUPERSOSAT) 4.0
2
Norman
4 LCICMH-1 (Hybrid) 4.5
4.0
Sorghum
5 Hybrid 3.8
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 18

19. TRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Management practices that
ensures efficient use of water
for irrigation
Measures that mitigate the effects
of heat stress
Evaluation of more heat tolerant
germplasm
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 19

20. INPUTS REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE PRODUCTION TARGETS
Land : Expand existing hectarage
Adequate supply of improved quality seeds
Provision of sufficient and quality inorganic and
organic fertilizers
Rapid expansion of irrigation facilities and
resuscitating of existing ones for irrigated crops
Provision of marketing corporations to support
value chains
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 20

21. SEED PRODUCTION
Lake Chad Research Institute produces high
quality breeder and foundation seeds for seed
companies, state agricultural development
projects (ADPs) and lead farmers, who
produce certified seeds for farmers.
In 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons, about 3
and 7.5 metric tones of breeder and
foundation seeds of wheat were produced,
respectively.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 21

22. EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY
• Research-Extension-Farmer-
Inputs-Linkage-System (REFILS)
provides a platform for linkages
among researchers, extension
workers, farmers and service
providers;
• Agricultural Research Outreach
Centres (AROC) is an adopted
village concept that aims at
strengthening linkages between
researchers and their immediate
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 22

23. The Institute also disseminates its
developed technologies through
annual training, annual research
review and planning meetings.,
radio and television broadcasts,
publication of extension guides,
and bulletins for farmers,
developers and NGOs.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 23

24. CHALLENGES
• In spite of the prospects and enormous potentials for
wheat production in Nigeria, challenges militating
against increased local production for food security
are as follows:
• Weak research-extension-farmer linkage system
(REFILS) to improve farmers technologies in the
agronomy of wheat production.
• Inadequate skill on the use of biotechnological tools
for development of improved wheat varieties tolerant
to heat, biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Inadequate high yielding heat tolerant varieties
• Inadequate water and inputs management
• Weak training programme for extension A G A J I E T A and1 2
M
agents L . , 2 0 24
farmer which results in application of low level of the

25. • Inadequate supply of good quality seeds.
Poor market arrangement and remuneration to
farmers in Nigeria.
• Policy impediments that undermine adoption of
new technologies.
• Lack of micro credit facilities to the farmers
frustrates timely field operations and procurement
of necessary inputs.
• Inadequate farm equipments notably tractor and
combine harvester.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 25

26. Policy Issues
•Nigeria requires 3.7 million metric tons of wheat
annually and spends about 635 billion Naira (USD
3.91 Billion ) annually, amounting to about 1.7 billion
Naira daily to import the commodity. Yet, current
local production stands at a meager 50, 000 - 60,
000 metric tones. Consequently, Nigeria is the
world’s largest importer of all classes of U.S. wheat.
•In the short run, Government has put legislation in
place to replace 20% of wheat flour by good quality
cassava flour for bread-baking, thus saving the
country’s foreign exchange by N127 billion annually,
hoping to increase the percentage substitution to
40%, saving up to N354 Billion/annum.
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 26

27. •In the long run, Government has made
wheat production one of her priority crops
in its Agricultural Transformation Agenda
(ATA). Effective from 2013, Government
intended to support wheat production and
its value-chain.
 Imposition of tariff on wheat importation
by 5% (about N32 Billion),
•As part of the Government’s efforts, the
Research – Extension – Farmer – Input-
Linkage - System (REFILS) shall be
strengthened to improve farmers’ MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 27

28. CONCLUSION
• There is great potential for irrigated and
rain-fed wheat production in Nigeria, but
particularly for the former.
• A large number of wheat lines obtained from
CIMMYT is being evaluated to identify
adaptable materials.
• Studies on enhancement of wheat production
through improved technology development
and impacts of innovations on livelihood is
currently under way.
• This will not only increase the total wheat
output in the country but will enhance
national food and nutritional security and
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 28
generate employment.

29. THANK YOU
MAGAJI ET AL., 2012 29