Nnadiebube Journal of Social Sciences

Food security is central to Nigeria’s survival and development, yet persistent hunger, price volatility, and structural weaknesses have limited the country’s agricultural potential. This study critically examined the implementation of Nigeria’s Agricultural Promotion Policy (Green Alternative) and its implications for national food security between 2016 and 2024. Grounded in Food Security Theory, the research investigates two key dimensions: evaluating how access to farm inputs affects crop production and how investment in storage facilities has impacted post-harvest losses. Employing an ex-post facto research design within a qualitative framework, the study adopted a documentary method data collection approach. Data was analyzed using content analysis to identify, interpret, and report patterns, providing deep insights into both successes and shortcomings. The study found that the Green Alternative Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) had significantly improved access to farm inputs and stimulated investment in storage infrastructure, leading to localized gains in crop production and partial reductions in post-harvest losses in Nigeria between 2016 and 2024. Programs such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme and the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative increased cultivation and boosted food crop outputs, but their effects varied across regions and crops, leaving national self-sufficiency unachieved. Investments in storage facilities helped mitigate post-harvest losses, yet they were limited by technical, financial, and operational challenges. The study recommended that the government expand access to credit, quality seeds, and fertilisers with improved targeting systems, while also investing in modernized and decentralized storage infrastructure, public–private partnerships, and technological upgrades to ensure long-term food security.

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