Nigeria’s fight against vitamin A deficiency — a condition affecting millions of children and women — has been transformed through the large-scale introduction of vitamin A maize (VAM). Developed through conventional breeding and promoted by HarvestPlus Solutions and partners, VAM has grown from a small pilot in the early 2010s to one of the world’s most successful biofortification initiatives.

Today, about 2 million farmers grow vitamin A maize, improving the diets of over 65 million Nigerians. This includes nearly 18 million people who produce it on their farms and another 47 million who purchase vitamin A maize products from markets.

This national-scale progress stems from a deliberate strategy built on four pillars:

• Science and Seed Innovation: Working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and national institutions, HarvestPlus supported the release of more than 20 climate-smart, high-yielding, vitamin A–rich maize varieties suited to Nigeria’s diverse regions.
• Strengthened Seed Systems: Collaboration with seed companies, regulators, and agro-dealers ensured widespread access to certified seed, along with government-endorsed standards to protect seed quality.
• Demand Creation and Community Engagement: Through cooking demos, radio programs, women’s groups, and food processors, VAM became familiar in both rural and urban diets, shifting perceptions of yellow maize from skepticism to acceptance.
• Market and Policy Support: Partnerships with processors and small businesses built viable value chains, while government policy integration secured long-term support for biofortification.

Looking ahead, HarvestPlus Solutions is deepening efforts by expanding seed access, strengthening extension support, engaging processors, boosting consumer awareness, and reinforcing policy frameworks.

Beyond the numbers, the impact is deeply human: healthier children, empowered women, higher farmer incomes, and communities better equipped against hidden hunger. With over 65 million Nigerians now consuming vitamin A maize, the country stands as a continental leader in scaling nutritious staple crops — proving that with the right partnerships, the solution to malnutrition can grow from the ground up.