Wheat Production: Nigeria Still Far From Millers’ Demand

As the country looks towards reduction in wheat imports, wheat farmers in Sokoto and Kebbi States relish their experiences in the production of wheat as they claimed the federal government has not been encouraging enough. They spoke to Agbo-Paul Augustine in their farms in Sokoto and Kebbi recently
Aliyu Maigoro, 9, a primary four pupil of the 40-year-old Magaji Rafi model primary school in Tudan Wada, Sokoto North local government area enjoys his biscuits as he walks to school in the morning. He munches his sweetened biscuits with all pleasure, far from the intrigues of wheat farming and the ordeal millers’ face in getting the vital cash crop to feed their factories thousands of kilometres away from Sokoto.

Wheat also known as Alkama by the locals in northern Nigeria is the main source of flour production, biscuits and other confectionery in Nigeria. The production of wheat in Nigeria is said to be about 300,000 metric tonnes a year, a sharp contrast to about 4.2 million metric tonnes millers require to keep their factories in operation.

According to the executive director, Lake Chad Research Institute, Dr Oluwasina Olabanji, the average grain yield for wheat in the country is above 2.0 tonnes per hectare, although research has shown that this can be easily tripled if proper varieties and crop management is adopted.

The poor production level in Nigeria has put the cost of importation of wheat at a staggering N635 billion (about $4 billion) annually. The federal government through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) came with various measures including the inclusion of 10 per cent cassava flour to wheat flour production.

The Wheat Transformation Agenda, which is part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the outgone government, has a major target to increase national production from 300,000 metric tonnes to about 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum by 2017.

When LEADERSHIP Sunday took a tour of some wheat production belts of Sokoto and Kebbi states recently, it was clear that the challenges facing wheat production in Nigeria are enormous, many wheat producers are frustrated.

Wheat is planted in November and harvested early March and requires diligent attention because it is a sensitive crop. In Sokoto State, farmers revealed that their major challenges in the state are farm inputs, improved seedlings and access to finance and market.

Wheat is produced in Goronyo, Illela, Gwadabawa, Wamako, Yabo, Wurno, Sabon Birni, Kebbe, Shagari and Gada LGAs and largely rely on water from the Goronyo Dam while others rely on self-help.

The chairman, Wheat Farmers Association, Sokoto State, Mohammed Mahe Marafa speaking to FoodFarmNews in Goronyo said when the going was better, Sokoto produce more than 30,000 metric tonnes of wheat in three months.

Marafa noted that the government in the past buys wheat from farmers around Sokoto, but that stopped in 1985, a situation that has put farmers at a precarious situation. “We produce while government buys and give us money, but later government withdrew in 1985 and the situation has remained so till date,” Marafa said.
He said they were limited by the federal government to a certain variety which was given in addition to few fertilizers which were far from being enough.

“We got more than 500 bags (25 tonnes) because the seedlings they gave us were meagre. The most disheartening aspect of the whole thing was that the federal government that gave us the variety never showed up to buy the harvest from us.

“From the month of March, we kept waiting and waiting and up to November, another planting season came without a trace of the government.”

He said the Sokoto State government did not show much interest in wheat production. However, Marafa noted that wheat farmers are looking out for markets to sell their produce.

In Kebbi State, wheat is found in large quantity in Argungu, Augie, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Kalgo, Jega, Maiyama, Dandi, Suru, Bagudo, Koko/Besse, Shanga, Yauri, Ngaski and Gwandu LGAs.

Alhaji Muhammad Sahabi Augie, a wheat farmer who represented the president, Kebbi State Wheat Farmers Association, Ibrahim Argungu, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that fuel cost, lack of mechanisation, high interest rate for credits from banks including the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) at 13 per cent is still not low enough for wheat farmers.

He stated that though the state has about 20,000 farmers, the number is likely to increase if the government is seen to be serious with wheat farming programme. The high loss by farmers has forced many to turn their back on the grain.

Augie however, stated that farmers are trying to key into the federal government’s ATA programme. ‘Some are just trying to test the waters and ascertain government’s readiness, especially with buying back the produce. If farmers get good support in terms of inputs, fertilizer, implements (threshers) and market, the number would quadruple the present figure’.

Wheat harvest in Kebbi State according to Augie is about 990 tonnes, no sales has been made yet. The variety mostly planted is that from the Lake Chad Research Institute, called Atilla Gan Atilla, an exotic breed that gives an average of 4 – 4.5 tons per hectare.

Augie also believes establishing relationship with flour milling companies with an ‘outgrowers’ scheme would be much better than bank credits because every party to the arrangement would be very committed to see to the success.

He pointed out that engagement to thriving wheat farming would employ a lot of youths and reduce restiveness, thus improving the peace of the area and society at large.
In Kebbi State, farmers say the government buys wheat at N25,000 a bag but in Sokoto State, farmers are not that lucky to enjoy government patronage.

When contacted, the immediate past commissioner of agriculture, Sokoto State, Mohammed Arzika Tureta declined to make any statement on the matter. But a senior official in the ministry who pleaded for anonymity said wheat farmers in Sokoto State rely on the open market to sell their farm produce as ‘government does not buy wheat from local farmers in the state’.

The source further said the Sokoto State government through the Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing System of Agricultural Lending of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), has empowered several farmers in getting funds that are friendly and affordable.

“Farmers are not getting patronage in the state and this has affected the production of wheat. Sokoto State has no scheme aimed at buying wheat from farmers. The farmers have to find market for their produce”, the source revealed.

Also speaking, a Soil Scientist at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof Sumaila Sani Noma, was of the view that wheat is no longer a common crop in Sokoto State.

“The farmers have now shifted to irrigated rice instead and the reason largely is the lack of market because importation has put pressure on local production. The imported wheat are cheaper for the users and those making bread and associated food products buy foreign wheat leaving local farmers without a market”, Noma said.

Noma added that the soil in Sokoto State is best for wheat production. “You can grow wheat at the low land areas where a considerable amount of clay soil exists in the state because they have added retention of water,” he noted.

With a little above 1,000 MT from Sokoto and Kebbi States and the situation in the North East not still suitable for farmers, Nigeria’s journey to wheat sustenance is better described as daunting.

Little Maigoro in Sokoto may still have his delicious biscuits but his parents will continue to cough more money while farmers, as well as millers, will continue to languish and pay more foreign exchange to get high grade wheat to feed their hungry factories.