Agric sector records 3.15% growth in GDP to 11.87trn

•Crop productions dominates with N8.9trn  

By Cynthia Alo

The agricultural sector comprising crop production, livestock, forestry, and fishing  recorded a 3.15 per cent, year-on-year growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to N11.87 trillion in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26) from N11.51 trillion in Q1’25.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its GDP report for Q1’26. The report showed crop production remained the dominant driver of  the agric sector, contributing N8.9 trillion in Q1’26 representing an increase of 3.39 per cent YoY from N8.6 trillion in  Q1’25.  

Further analysis showed that the Livestock sub-sector grew to N1.57 trillion in Q1’26 representing a 2.20 per cent increase from N1.54 trillion in Q1’25 while Forestry posted a 4.14 per cent growth to N589.88 billion in Q1’26 from N566.42 billion in Q1’25.

Meanwhile, the Fishing sub-sector recorded  growth of 1.72 per cent, YoY  to N792.92 billion in Q1’26 from N779.49 billion in Q1’25.

The NBS in its GDP Q1’26 report said: “Four sub-activities make up the Agricultural sector: Crop Production, Livestock, Forestry, and Fishing.  The sector grew by 9.93% year-on-year in nominal terms in Q1 2026, showing a decrease of 0.11% points from the same quarter of 2025. Looking at the preceding quarter’s growth rate of 6.82%, there was an increase of 3.11% points. Crop production remained the major driver of the sector. This is evident as it accounts for 66.76% of the overall nominal value of the sector in the first quarter of 2026.  

Quarter-on-quarter growth stood at -36.37% in the first quarter of 2026. Agriculture contributed 18.11%  to nominal GDP in the first quarter of 2026. This figure was lower than the rate recorded in the first  quarter of 2025 and lower than the fourth quarter of 2025, which recorded 19.40% and 25.67%,  respectively.”  

“The agricultural sector in the first quarter of 2026 grew by 3.15% (year-on-year) in real terms, an increase of 3.08% points from the corresponding period of 2025, and a decrease of 0.85% points from the preceding quarter, which recorded a growth rate of 4.00%. 

“It grew on a quarter-on-quarter basis at -35.24%. However, the sector contributed 23.16% to aggregate GDP in real terms in Q1 2026, lower than the contribution in the first quarter of 2025 and lower than the contribution in the fourth quarter of 2025, which stood at 23.33% and 28.66%, respectively.”

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