Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) yesterday said Nigeria spends $10 billion on importation of wheat, rice, sugar, fish, and tomato paste in spite of government efforts to transform agricultural sector.

Dr Godwin Atser, SAA Nigeria Country Director said this at the 2026 Annual Stakeholders Workshop and celebration of SAA 40th anniversary yesterday in Abuja. Atser said the challenge was due to the country’s low production capacity to meet local demand.

He said there was need to make the right technologies available to farmers through effective extension and advisory services. According to him, available data revealed that Nigeria has one extension agent to 10,000 farmers, a situation, he said was grossly inadequate to transform our agricultural sector.

Atser said the workshop was a high-level event meant to reflect on the organisation’s 2021- 2025 Strategic Plan and chart the way forward for agricultural development in Nigeria.

He said: “SAA has been supporting agricultural transformation in Nigeria for 33 years, contributing to improved productivity, enhanced livelihoods, and strengthened extension systems.”