Agridata Point Ltd/
“Nigerian cowpea production has hit over 3.5 million MT for some years now”

It's great to meet you Abubakar! Tell us a little about Agridata Point Limited.

Agridata Point Limited is a platform founded in 2018 that provides up-to-date information on the Nigerian agricultural sector. Our platform provides comprehensive solutions for organizations – but mainly helps to provide and assess accurate data so that businesses can maximize profits.

We have a variety of services, such as data sourcing, forecasting, analysis, market linkages and advisory services, but a big part of our work is collecting production, consumption, and price data of Nigerian commodities.

Who are your target clients?

We have a wide target audience, such as farmers and growers seeking to access market data and intelligence, as well as commodity traders, government agencies and international organizations interested in monitoring global food security and developing policies to address it.

Financial institutions looking to invest in agricultural commodity markets are also target clients, as well as international companies hoping to manage the supply chains more efficiently and effectively. Academic researchers can also use our data to create analyses for research and study purposes.

Could you tell us the pulses and other commodities you collect data on?

The most important pulse we collect data for is cowpeas, but we also work with coffee, soybeans, sesame seeds, and bambara nut.

How exactly do you collect your data and ensure it is accurate?

We have an app called Kobo Collect that staff use when they are monitoring the markets and monitoring prices. Our staff work constantly in various markets and locations and are present on market days to observe and collect data, which they then put directly into our app. We also have analysts who work on the data – cleaning it up and ordering it in our database. The application itself belongs to Agridata Point, so the data only ever comes directly to us.

Nigeria is a big producer of cowpeas – what level of production is there currently?

Nigerian cowpea production has hit over 3.5 million MT for some years now – this is because a lot of research efforts have gone into the development of improved varieties that have a high yield, strong resistance to drought, and shorter growth and maturation cycles. This makes the crop highly profitable with relatively low risk, which has made it very popular with Nigerian farmers. Our farmers currently work with over 20 different varieties of cowpea, and it is a staple food for farmers as well as households around the country.

Among the many factors that have contributed to the growth in cowpea production, the interventions of governments and international NGOs have been extremely influential, improving corrupt production practices and developing market linkages. The strong health-giving benefits of cowpeas ensure production stays high.

What is the process of getting the product to market? 

We have a system where farmers deal with middlemen who facilitate aggregation. We have big aggregators who send rural agents out to farmers to collect their crops, when the farmer brings the product from the farm they bring it to the market. People then buy that commodity and it is transported to the processors or to other markets.

How does the weather in Nigeria affect cowpea production?

The weather has been very unpredictable over the last seven years or so and we’ve experienced different weather patterns. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and extension agents have been working tirelessly to keep farmers informed of weather conditions. NIMET liaises with extension agents to pass on meteorological information – this helps to maintain our high levels of production.

What is the domestic consumption of cowpeas in Nigeria?

We consume over 88% of our total production domestically. Since 2015, there has been an export ban on Nigerian cowpeas which means most of our production has stayed within the country. Other commodities like soybeans, sesame seeds, and bambara nuts have all been exported freely during that time. However, this year the export ban on cowpeas has been lifted and exports will begin in 2024 on the condition that exporters follow certain regulations.

What would be the destination for Nigerian cowpeas?

Before the ban, the Nigerian export market for cowpeas was Europe, western and northern Africa, and even South America.

Is there a lot of trade between Nigeria and neighboring countries?

Yes, Nigeria does a great deal of trade with countries like Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin and Ghana. A lot of the trade we do is in raw agricultural materials as well as finished goods and fully processed products like pulses and soybeans. Nigerian traders also trade cowpeas to Cameroon – even after the ban. They tended to be transported over the border in trucks.

What other governmental interventions have been made in Nigeria to help agriculture?

The Nigerian government has made a lot of interventions to support various sectors, including agriculture. Interventions range from grants, loan capacity building, advisory services, access to land, and input on quality – to name a few.

Finally, can you tell me about the future of Agridata Point? How do you see the company evolving in the coming years?

Our mission is to enhance transparency and efficiency in the Nigerian agricultural commodity market. We want to do this by providing accurate, reliable and timely data which we will analyse and forward to all stakeholders in the various agricultural sectors. We also hope to have further engagement, publicity, and partnerships with governmental and international agencies, in addition to searching for investors who can support us to achieve our mission.