In May, we reported on innovative business models being developed for Nigeria’s potato sector. Since then, significant progress has been made in Plateau State, where Dutch and Nigerian partners are working together in two separate consortia to test improved potato varieties and strengthen the value chain.
Bumper Harvests Signal Opportunity
Despite security challenges in Plateau State, farmers in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas recently recorded a bumper Irish potato harvest, supported by early and sustained rainfall. According to BusinessDay, production levels were high enough to push market prices down from over ₦100,000 per 50 kg bag (about US $65) to ₦30,000–33,000 (approximately US $20–21), with retail prices between ₦40,000–45,000 (roughly US $26–29) in Jos markets.
Progress on Dutch Seed Trials
Over the last six months starting material of already registered and newly proposed varieties of four Dutch companies has been imported in Nigeria, for variety registration and promotion activities. The varieties Rumba and Jelly (fully registered) and Connect (partly registered, and already in widespread use) have been introduced to be used in the business case piloting by the two Dutch-Nigeria consortia as for these varieties there are no regulatory constraints regarding multiplication and promotion. Other conventional and True Potato Seed varieties have been imported and entered into the variety registration process (funded outside this project).
The three varieties Rumba, Jelly and Connect are currently being multiplied on 8 hectares across Jos, Vom, Bisichi, and Fobur, with three hectares under the management of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in Vom. The Nigerian partners receive support from their Dutch counterparts in the form of equipment and technical advice on mechanisation Early field observations are encouraging, showing healthy plant growth across the trial plots.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang commended the farmers’ resilience and reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality seedlings and modern farming tools. However, farmers stressed the urgent need for storage facilities to prevent post-harvest losses as market supply increases.
Potato Market in Nigeria
This performance highlights the enormous potential of Plateau State; home to over 300,000 hectares of potato land, the largest in West Africa. Yet current yields remain below 7 tonnes per hectare, far beneath global averages. Dutch seed companies, recognized worldwide for their high-quality, certified potato varieties, have helped transform yields and quality in similar markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Their commitment to the Nigeria potato sector goes beyond the desire to enter a new market. It is also driven by their sense of corporate social responsibility to to contribute to the development of a local seed potato system by sharing their expertise, and assuring access by smallholder farmers to their variety portfolios. By introducing new varieties through regulated performance trials, the aim is to support Nigerian farmers in unlocking this potential, boosting both productivity and quality.
Regulatory Processes and Opportunities for Improvement
The trial process has also provided useful lessons on navigating regulatory and operational procedures. Areas where improvements could enhance efficiency include:
- Clearance timelines: Current clearance for seed materials and machinery can take more than 10 weeks. Streamlined processes could help ensure timelier planting.
- Customs fees: Standardized and predictable customs fees would reduce lengthy negotiations.
- Approval coordination: Closer alignment among agencies (NAQS, NAFDAC, Customs) could make approvals more efficient and less costly.
- Logistics and infrastructure: Addressing high transport costs and power challenges would improve the ease of doing agribusiness.
These barriers underline the need for continued dialogue between Dutch and Nigerian stakeholders to create a more enabling environment for agribusiness investment.
Photo credit by Yonny of Camiola Global Resources - CGR - Potato Farming Plateau State
Looking Ahead: Trade Mission to the Netherlands
In September, a high-level public-private delegation from Nigeria, led by the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang and joined by private sector stakeholders, will travel to the Netherlands to attend PotatoEurope 2025.
The mission is being organized by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Lagos, RVO and SeedNL. It will provide Nigerian stakeholders with first-hand exposure to advanced potato technologies, supply chains, and business opportunities in Europe, while also showcasing Nigeria’s own potential to attract partnerships and investment. Participants at PotatoEurope will also have the opportunity to meet and engage with the Nigerian delegation, creating space for dialogue, partnership-building, and exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s potato sector.
As part of the programme, a workshop on potato seed sector development in Nigeria will take place at the WUR Field Crops stand (Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 11:00–12:30). Sessions will include a presentation on seed supply to smallholder potato producers in Nigeria, insights on seed potato sector development, and a discussion on “what’s next” for strengthening seed systems. This workshop will highlight progress from the Dutch seed trials in Plateau State and feed into the broader roadmap for Nigeria’s seed sector.
The combination of bumper harvests in Plateau State, ongoing Dutch private sector efforts to make their variety portfolios available to Nigerian potato producers, and the upcoming trade mission reflects both the opportunities and the challenges in strengthening Nigeria’s potato sector. With the right mix of technology, skills, and policy support, Dutch and Nigerian partners can unlock significant value enhancing food security, improving farmer livelihoods, and building a more competitive agribusiness sector.
Contact
The agricultural team, together with colleagues in The Hague, will continue to work on the development of the potato sector in Nigeria.
If you would like to know more, please send us an email via lag-lvvn@minbuza.nl.