The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has said that the country’s maize industry is worth about $6 billion (N2.2 trillion). Maize crop serves as a key input in many manufacturing companies and the poultry industry.
The research institute stated that the value of the maize industry is being threatened by the armyworm infestation, which is currently ravaging maize farmland in Funtua-in Kastina State.
“Nigeria’s maize industry is worth about $6 billion annually. The value is being threatened by the armyworm pest on maize,” Robert Asiedu, director-West Africa research for development directorate, IITA, said during a press briefing with journalists in Lagos recently.
“There is a lot of research going on now for the army worm invasion in IITA. We are trying to see the best chemicals to be used as a short term measure and on the long run we are working to build resistance to the armyworm infestations ravaging farmlands in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Also we are trying to use biological agents which could be another insects or a fungus to control the armyworm,” Asiedu said.
A total of 22 states have been affected out of the country’s 36 states since the outbreak was recorded last year June.
Many losses have been incurred in the affected states and farmers have predicted another decline in the country’s 2017 maize production.
Nigeria is Africa’s second largest maize producer after South Africa, churning out about 10.5 million metric tons per annum with a demand of 15 million metric tons, leaving a supply-demand gap of 4.5 million tons per annum, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Maize is the leading cereal grown in Nigeria, closely followed by sorghum and rice.
According to the USAID 2017 grain report for Nigeria, maize production for MY 2017/2018 declined by 4 percent when compared to the MY216/2017 numbers, owing to the continuous destruction of corn production by armyworm infestation in the past few years.
“The armyworm infestation which affected a lot of farmlands in the South-West is still ravaging farmlands especially in the Northern region now,” said Tunji Ademola, national president, Maize Association of Nigeria (MAN) told BusinessDay in a telephone response to questions.
“Farmers are putting measures in place to ensure their farms are not affected by the outbreak so as not to suffer a loss on their investments,” Ademola said.
Josephine Okojie
