Malaria is taking a significant toll on agricultural productivity, reducing output among farming households with high malaria incidence by as much as 25 per cent, according to Prof. Aderonke Mohammed of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).
Mohammed, a Professor of Agricultural Economics, said the findings showed that malaria should be viewed not only as a public health concern but also as an economic and agricultural productivity issue because illness reduces available farm labour and increases household spending.
She disclosed this during the ABU Inaugural Lecture Series No. 02/26, titled “Advancing Agricultural Economics: Insights into Agricultural Production Economics, Food Security and Health.”
According to her research, 86 per cent of the households studied recorded high malaria incidence, while affected households experienced an average of eight malaria episodes annually.
The economic burden also extended to treatment and caregiving, with households spending an average of ₦18,500 on malaria-related expenses.
Mohammed said a study involving 72 households monitored over eight months established a link between malaria incidence and agricultural performance. Households with higher malaria incidence recorded lower productivity, while malaria-related medical expenses also reduced technical efficiency.
“Malaria, a major community health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, reduces farm labour during peak periods,” the lecture noted, linking the disease to declining agricultural productivity and household welfare.
Mohammed said the findings underscored the need for agricultural policies to look beyond farm inputs and output and pay greater attention to the health conditions of farmers and rural households.
She identified preventive measures such as the use of insecticide-treated nets, clearing bushy surroundings and appropriate anti-malaria treatment as important steps towards reducing malaria incidence and protecting agricultural labour productivity.
The agricultural economist also highlighted the wider role of agricultural economics in improving food production and rural livelihoods through more efficient allocation of land, labour and capital.
Her research across cereals, vegetables, tubers, tree crops, livestock and mixed farming systems, she said, showed that better resource management could increase productivity without necessarily requiring additional resources.
Mohammed also linked agricultural productivity to the broader challenge of food security, noting that higher production alone does not guarantee that households will have access to nutritious food.
She identified affordability, access, nutrition and sustainability as critical components of food security.
Research on rural households found that 64 per cent were food insecure and consumed 52 per cent less than the recommended calorie intake. Limited capital, poor processing and inadequate storage were among the factors contributing to the problem.
She called for stronger agricultural extension services, greater investment in sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, improved access to farmland, and wider adoption of mixed farming and better nutritional practices.
Mohammed said agricultural efficiency could also be improved through better management and resource utilisation.
In one study of yam production, she identified a 36 per cent efficiency gap, suggesting that farmers could potentially increase output through improved management practices and more efficient use of available resources.
She further advocated integrated malaria-control strategies that combine prevention, testing and treatment with agricultural extension services.
According to her, protecting the health of rural workers could translate into higher farm productivity and improved food security.
“By adopting a holistic approach, we can address the complex interrelationship between malaria, productivity, economic development and food security,” she said.
