Food Security Under Threat as Insecurity Keeps Farmers Away from Farmlands

Farmers across Nigeria say they are prepared for the planting season, but rising attacks, kidnappings and banditry are preventing them from cultivating their fields, raising fresh concerns over national food security.

As the 2026 wet season farming cycle gains momentum, growing insecurity across key agricultural belts is disrupting farming activities and threatening food production nationwide.

From Nigeria’s North-West and North-East regions to parts of the North-Central zone, farmers report increasing difficulties accessing their farmlands due to persistent attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups. Similar fears are emerging in some southern communities, where farmers are reluctant to travel to remote farmlands over security concerns.

The development comes at a critical period when land preparation, planting and crop establishment activities should be at their peak, creating fears of reduced agricultural output and further pressure on food prices.

Recent security reports indicate that insecurity claimed more than 1,200 lives across the country between January and early February 2026, with rural communities bearing a significant share of the casualties. Security monitoring groups have also recorded thousands of conflict-related fatalities during the first quarter of the year.

Several major food-producing states, including Benue, Plateau, Niger, Kogi and Kwara, continue to experience attacks that have displaced farming households and disrupted agricultural operations.

In Benue State, repeated attacks on farming communities have reportedly resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property, while violence in Plateau State has displaced thousands of residents, reducing the labour force available for cultivation.

The situation has heightened concerns among food security experts. International development agencies have warned that prolonged disruptions to farming activities could worsen food insecurity across the country during the 2026 lean season.

Farmers Ready, But Fearful

Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Daniel Okafor, said farmers remain committed to cultivating their lands but are increasingly worried about their safety.

According to him, many farmers are uncertain about accessing their farms amid growing security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts.

“Farmers are willing and ready to farm, but many are afraid. A large number of our members can no longer access their farms safely, and this is affecting agricultural productivity,” he said.

In Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, maize farmer Musa Adamu said many farmers are approaching the season cautiously despite preparations for planting.

“Farming is our source of livelihood, but insecurity has created fear among farmers. Many people have stopped going to distant farms because of the risk of kidnapping and attacks,” he said.

Another farmer, Esther Danladi, warned that restricted access to farmlands could have serious consequences for food availability and affordability.

“If farmers cannot cultivate their fields, food production will decline. That will eventually lead to higher food prices and make it more difficult for households to feed their families,” she noted.

For women farmers, the security situation has created additional challenges. Grace Yakubu, a vegetable farmer in Orozo, Abuja, said many women now rely on family members or groups for protection while working on their farms, reducing the time available for productive activities.

Similarly, rice farmer Williams Egwuda from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State described insecurity as one of the biggest obstacles facing agricultural production.

“Instead of concentrating on farming, people are constantly worried about their safety. In some cases, farmers work while others keep watch for possible attacks,” he said.

Egwuda called for stronger security measures in rural communities, alongside increased government support through access to farm inputs, mechanisation services and affordable agricultural financing.

While acknowledging recent interventions by the Kogi State government, he stressed the need for greater support, including fertilisers, improved seeds, herbicides, tractors and spraying equipment.

Over 200 Farmers Kidnapped in Kaduna – AFAN

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has also raised concerns over the security situation in Kaduna State, revealing that more than 200 farmers have reportedly been kidnapped across various communities this year.

AFAN Kaduna State Chairman, Nuhu Aminu, said insecurity and poor returns on agricultural investments are discouraging farmers from expanding production.

According to him, many farmers spent heavily on fertilisers and other inputs during the previous season but struggled to recover their production costs after harvest.

He disclosed that several communities across local government areas such as Kajuru, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kachia and Giwa continue to face security challenges, forcing some farmers to abandon their farmlands entirely.

“Many farmers have left their farms because they fear being attacked or kidnapped. In some communities, farmers are reportedly paying levies to armed groups just to gain access to their farmlands,” he said.

A farmer from Kajuru LGA, Silas Ishaya, said persistent insecurity forced him to abandon a large portion of his farmland.

“We live with fear every day. Many farmers can no longer risk going to their farms because they cannot afford the consequences if they are kidnapped,” he explained.

Another farmer, Sani Tanko, pointed to declining prices of some farm produce as an additional challenge affecting investment decisions this season.

“Aside from insecurity, poor returns on investment are discouraging many farmers from cultivating on the same scale as previous years,” he said.

With planting activities underway across much of the country, stakeholders warn that unless security conditions improve significantly, agricultural production could fall below expectations, potentially worsening food inflation and food insecurity in the months ahead.

Commodity.ng Insight

Nigeria’s food security challenge is increasingly becoming a security challenge. While access to fertilisers, improved seeds and financing remains important, these interventions may have limited impact if farmers cannot safely access their fields.

The latest reports from farming communities suggest that insecurity is no longer only disrupting harvests—it is influencing planting decisions. When farmers reduce cultivated acreage, abandon remote farmlands or delay planting, the effects ripple across the entire agricultural value chain, from production and processing to commodity markets and consumer prices.

For major staples such as maize, rice, sorghum and vegetables, reduced cultivation in key producing states could tighten market supplies later in the year, potentially sustaining upward pressure on food prices.

Addressing rural insecurity, strengthening community policing, improving intelligence gathering and protecting farming corridors may prove just as critical to Nigeria’s food security agenda as agricultural subsidies and input support programmes. For the 2026 season, ensuring that farmers can safely plant and harvest may be one of the country’s most important agricultural priorities.