Introduction

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most extensively grown cereal crop in the world. Ample evidence shows that wheat has been cultivated as early as 2000 B.C. However, wheat production level in Nigeria has been very low. The current production of wheat in the country is about 60,000 tons annually. It is pertinent to note that wheat is one of the major crops, which is in high demand in the country. The demand for wheat in Nigeria is about 3.7 million tons annually. The country, being the leading export destination and the third overall largest importer of USA wheat, expends over N700 billion of foreign exchange annually on its importation arising from persistence deficits between domestic need and local production. This stemmed from rapid and continuous growth in consumption as a result of changing dietary pattern of the population and increased urbanization. Nigeria’s overall milling capacity is currently estimated at about 6.5 million tons with about 60% of this capacity being utilized. This is against the backdrop that the country is currently only 2.4% self sufficient in wheat and the 4.1 million MT is annually met through importation. Wheat production in Nigeria is exclusively under irrigation and limited to Northern part of the country with favourable temperatures and the average yields of the farmers of 1.2t/ha which are far below the average for developing countries of 6.0t/ha.

  Decade-Wise Trend of Wheat Consumption, Production and Import in Nigeria

000 MT
	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	Current
Domestic consumption	191	686.6	1115.8	883.2	3405.1	4200
National Production	55	13.3	32.1	40.0	88.5	100
Import	194	680.4	1070.0	861.2	3316.6	4100

To reverse this trend, and meet the nation’s wheat consumption requirements, there is a need to improve on how Wheat is cultivated in the country (in collaboration with the major stake holders in the sector) using a value chain development approach. This will seek to create a new generation of Wheat farmers oriented towards commercial production and farming as a business and link them up to a reliable demand and market, from researchers and professionals, irrigation development authorities, small and industrial millers, inputs and agro dealers, local markets, agro-processors, modern bakeries and confectioneries through a well managed value chain with farm-gate pricing and by back guaranty .This value chain approach will be private sector driven with support from the government. A very strong Wheat growers, processors, marketers, consumers will ensure activities in the market development. Federal/state governments and the public sector will organize and train farmers on agronomic practices to improve farmers yield and disseminate improved varieties released by research institutes and inputs will also be given to the farmers at subsidized rate.