Unlocking the Potential of Nigerian Farming Households: The Effect of Land Documentation on Crop Commercialization

This study examines the impact of land documentation on crop commercialization, aiming to unlock the potential of farming households in Nigeria and help bridge the nation's food demand-supply gap. The analysis draws on secondary data from the 2018–2019 Nigeria Living Standards Survey (NLSS). A sample of 2,240 households was assessed using descriptive statistics, the Household Crop Commercialization Index (HCCI), and a Tobit regression model. Findings reveal that the majority of household heads (92.05%) were male, with an average age of 50 years. Most were married (87.10%) and had no formal education (77.05%). Crop farming was found to be viable across all geopolitical zones, with the majority (70.63%) of farming households located in rural areas. Land documents held by households included title deeds (50.46%), rights of occupancy (12.34%), and survey plans (12.99%), with 69.70% possessing legally recognized land documentation. Additionally, a significant portion of households (74.42%) were semi-subsistence farmers. At p < 0.01, the possession of title deeds, rights of occupancy, rental contracts, registered leases, and the right to sell land all had significant positive effects on crop commercialization. At p < 0.05, possession of a customary certificate of occupancy had a significant positive effect, while the right to bequeath land showed a significant negative effect. These results suggest that formal land documentation plays a key role in promoting crop commercialization in Nigeria. To fully harness the commercialization potential of farming households, it is recommended that the government effectively implement the Land Use Act of 1978 to simplify the land documentation process. Furthermore, landowners with idle land should facilitate agricultural use by granting access through documented agreements.