Nigeria is simultaneously the largest food producer and the third largest food importer in Africa. A combination of factors has given rise to this contradictory state of affairs: productivity declines, population shifts, changing demand structures, and rising incomes from petroleum revenue. Given current high population growth rates and declining per capita food production, further income growth alone will not finance projected import levels without seriously disrupting Nigeria's economy. Market development efforts in Nigeria may backfire unless they take into account the unique technological needs of Nigeria's heavily traditional agricultural sector.