The agricultural sector in Nigeria offers substantial untapped potential for investors in 2025 according to experts. Samuel Organde, CEO of Sam-Agro Global Services, emphasized that agriculture can no longer remain stuck in traditional subsistence practices.
Instead, it must evolve into a thriving investment hub, driven by innovative, bankable projects that can transform Nigeria’s youthful population into successful entrepreneurs and millionaires.
Adebayo T. Adeleke, Founder of supply chain Africa noted that Nigeria spends billions importing food every year while our fertile land just chills. What if we actually grew, processed, and exported our crops? We’d feed ourselves, create jobs, and boost the economy, he said. Food security starts with using what we’ve got and starting from where we are he noted.
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), projects that Africa’s food and agriculture market will reach $1 trillion by 2030, creating annual investment opportunities of at least $170 billion in infrastructure.
Adesina urged investors to seize the opportunities in Africa’s food and agriculture sector while speaking to world food prize’s Norman Baulag dialogue in 2023.
Read also: How to invest in commercial oil palm farming
Here are the top 5 crops that farmers and investors should consider for high ROI and building generational wealth as recommended by experts.
Malaysian oil palm seeds
Nigeria’s annual demand for palm oil is currently 3 million metric tons, while domestic production falls short at just 1.4 million metric tons which leaves room for more investors, according to blueprint reports.
Adeleke highlights that planting palm trees is one of the simplest ways to generate income. These trees need minimal maintenance and flourish in the right environment. “Within 3 to 5 years, you can begin earning millions,” he pointed out.
You can get several products from an oil palm plantation ranging from crude palm oil, palm-kernel oil, refined palm oil and cake. He also suggested that if you have acres of unused land, “plant palm trees.” With proper training and access to high-yield seeds, Adeleke believes the potential for farmers and investors is limitless.
Organde highlighted that Malaysian oil palm seeds are at the top of the list due to their high yield and early maturity characteristics.
Cost and revenue for oil palm plantation
According to Olumakinde Oni, author and CEO of nucleus ventures nigeria limited, a mature palm plantation can deliver an impressive 12.5 tonnes of red palm oil per hectare each year starting from the fourth year.
As of 2023, a 20-hectare plantation yields 250 metric tonnes of oil annually. With a minimum price of N150,000 per tonne, this translates to a gross revenue of N37.5 million from red palm oil alone in 2023 Oni said.
Additionally, each hectare produces 7.5 metric tonnes of palm kernel, adding up to 375 tonnes from a 20-hectare farm. This boosts the total annual income to N26.25 million.
Altogether, the combined income from both red palm oil and palm kernel amounts to a staggering N63.75 million.
Oni noted that after accounting for annual operating expenses of N15 million, the investor stands to earn a net income of N48.75 million or more every year—a steady and lucrative return for the rest of their life.
Read also: 7 steps to successfully export palm oil in 2025
Plantain Plantation
Nigeria is the world’s leading producer of plantain, with an annual output of approximately 2.8 to 3.1 million metric tons annually according to reports.
Around 49% of farming households in the country focus on plantain as their primary crop according to reports by forum for agricultural research in Africa.
To start a plantain plantation, it’s essential to find land with specific conditions, including a warm and moist environment, rich and well-drained soil, ideal temperatures around 27°C, and consistent annual rainfall of approximately 2,000mm, Organde said.
Cost and revenue for plantain farming
Oni noted that you need approximately N5 million Naira to own a hectare of plantain plantation, this however depends on location and cost of land.
With proper management, a single sucker planted can yield one bunch of plantain or banana annually, resulting in a total of 10,000 bunches per year, he added.
Each bunch of plantain is sold for a minimum of N2,000 to N4,000 (current price), generating an annual revenue of N20 – N40 million starting from the 18th month after planting.
Maintenance costs are estimated at around N2 million per year, leaving promoters with a profit of over N18 million or more annually. Plantain plantations, when well-maintained, can remain productive for many years.
Read also: Inside Nigeria’s $10bn palm oil export
Dates plantation
Nigeria is one of Africa’s leading producers of dates, with an estimated annual production capacity exceeding 250,000 metric tons.Date farming in Nigeria represents approximately 70% of the total date production in West Africa, according to reports from Startup Tips.
In 2024, Nigeria imported dates worth $17.8 million while exporting only $2,070 worth, highlighting a significant gap in the market for potential investors, as noted by Akingbala Adetokunbo, managing principal consultant at Postervillam.
In Nigeria, date cultivation is mainly concentrated in states such as Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Taraba, as reported by Leadership Newspaper.
Cost and revenue for dates farming
According to reports, global consumption of dates reaches approximately 8.5 million metric tons annually, with the Middle East and North Africa being the leading producers and suppliers.
A 1-hectare plantation, consisting of 100 selected female palms of a promising variety, can generate an income of N4.5 million per year during the season.
Organde highlighted that the Medjool variety is the most sought-after in date farming. Native to Morocco, it is often referred to as the “king of fruits” due to its exceptional health benefits. According to Organde, it takes about 5 years for the Medjool variety to begin bearing fruit.
The date farming business in Nigeria presents a highly profitable opportunity due to its strong market demand and the potential to establish a wide-reaching supply chain network. Experts say that dates farming is a sustainable and profitable venture.
Read also: Industries’ thirst for palm oil sees prices surge by 120%
Malaysian dwarf coconut seeds
Nigeria ranks 18th globally in coconut production, with an output of approximately 225,526 metric tons in 2021, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In 2023, the Federal government announced plans to boost Nigeria’s coconut production from 225,526 metric tons (MT) to 500,000 MT by 2025. This was disclosed during the 10th international coconut festival held in Badagry, Lagos state by the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari.
Cost and revenue for coconut plantation
According to GreenHybrid Empire a US-an investor can generate a profit of over N36 million from just 10 acres of coconut plantation.
Setting up a 10-acre coconut plantation involves an investment of N26,550,000. This includes costs for land acquisition (N16,000,000), land clearing (N1,000,000), 700 coconut seedlings (N2,800,000), wire-collar protection (N250,000), professional planting and mapping (N500,000), and 6 years of maintenance (N6,000,000) says greenhybrid empire reports.
Once established, each tree will yield 100 fruits annually, resulting in a harvest of 70,000 fruits per year. With each fruit selling for N900, the plantation will generate N63,000,000 annually. After covering the setup costs, the investor can earn N36,450,000 per year, with this income continuing for the next 60 years.
Cashew plantation
The Nigerian cashew industry has experienced a 10% annual production growth rate over the past decade, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Nigeria is 6th largest cashew producer globally and the 3rd largest in Africa. With more than 600,000 hectares dedicated to cashew cultivation, it produces around 220,000 metric tons of raw cashew nuts each year according to reports on The Nation.
This substantial output not only positions Nigeria to meet the rising global demand for cashews but also creates ample opportunities for investors to play a key role in the industry.
Cashew farming in Nigeria spans 27 states, with 60-70% of farmers being smallholders and 30% managing medium to large-scale farms. Key cashew-producing states include Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi.
Cost and revenue for cashew plantation
Owning a hectare of cashew plantation costs about N700,000 (excluding land costs). The yield per tree ranges from 3 to 12 kg, depending on factors like variety, age, and agronomic practices.
Cashew fruits are ready for harvest 3 to 5 years after planting, with some varieties taking longer.
The Brazilian Jumbo and Indian Dwarf varieties were recommended by Veggie Concepts and Sam-Agro Global Services for their resilience and high yield.
They both start fruiting after 2.5 years and can last up to 60 years. The price of cashew nuts per metric ton ranges from N1 million to N1.5 million, with Brazilian Jumbo yielding 2 tons and Indian Dwarf yielding 1.5 tons per hectare.
Global outlook
The date palm fruit market has experienced strong growth, expanding from $26.78 billion in 2023 to $28.52 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% according to The business, a research company.
This upward trend is expected to continue, with the market projected to reach $37.30 billion by 2028, driven by a CAGR of 6.9%. The growth will be fueled by rising demand for healthy snacks, increased health awareness among consumers, and the growing popularity of convenient, snackable foods business reports added.
The United States is the leading importer of cashew kernels, responsible for over 50% of global imports according to agridemy.
Other major importers include the Netherlands (10%), Germany (7%), Japan (5%), and the United Kingdom (5%). Additionally, emerging markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia are also increasing their demand for cashews.
In 2023, India was the world’s largest importer of in-shell cashews, with imports valued at 1.33 billion U.S. dollars. China followed as the second-largest importer, with a cashew import value exceeding 9.9 million U.S. dollars according to reports by statista.
The palm oil market is expected to see significant growth, with its value projected to reach $85.47 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0%.
The market is forecasted to expand from $66.99 billion in 2024 to $70.21 billion in 2025, continuing its upward trajectory according to the business research company.
By 2033, food use of vegetable oils such as palm oil is expected to make up 55% of total consumption, driven by population growth and a rise in per capita vegetable oil consumption in lower- and middle-income countries according to the Food and Agriculture (FAO) reports.
Global demand for coconuts is projected to reach nearly 20 million metric tons by 2026, marking a slight increase from 19.9 million metric tons in 2021 according to reportlinker.
Demand has been stable since 2017, with no significant year-on-year changes. On the production side, global coconut output is expected to reach 65.4 million metric tons by 2026, reflecting a steady 0.5% annual growth since 2021.
The plantains market was valued at approximately USD 30.91 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 49.54 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5.38% from 2023 to 2033.
What’s next?
While farming these crops offers substantial profits, it is not without challenges such as insecurity, pests, farm theft, and climate change.
However, experts say there remains a significant opportunity for investors and stakeholders to capitalize on the potential in this sector.
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