The average Nigerian farmer is now in the late forties to early fifties, while many rural areas show an even higher age profile. Surveys indicate that young people make up only about 10 % to a maximum of one‑third of the agricultural workforce, a stark contrast to a nation where more than 70 % of the population is under 30. Agriculture still employs roughly 30 % to 35 % of workers and accounts for about a quarter of GDP, yet productivity lags far behind global standards. Rice yields sit around 2 tonnes per hectare versus 4‑6 tonnes elsewhere, and maize often falls below 2 tonnes per hectare compared with a global average near 5 tonnes. Mechanisation is minimal, with fewer than 0.3 tractors per 1,000 hectares, while the United States fields over 200 per the same area. Fertiliser use is under 20 kg per hectare against a world average exceeding 130 kg. A smallholder cultivating two hectares of maize barely earns enough to cover subsistence after inputs, and 30‑40 % of harvests are lost before reaching market due to poor storage and logistics. Consequently, many youths migrate to cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt for informal, ride‑hailing, retail and digital gig work. In northern regions, anecdotal reports suggest farms are being downsized or abandoned as ageing owners can no longer manage labour‑intensive cultivation. Food inflation has surged, at times rising above 40 % year‑on‑year, driving tens of millions into food insecurity despite Nigeria's over 70 million hectares of arable land and billions spent on imports.