he four National Committees on the
revitalization of the agricultural sector in Nigeria recently
inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
on the directives of President Mohammadu Buhari have submitted their
reports.
The four committees on the operationalization of Federal
Government storage and Agro Processing facilities Resuscitation of
Cotton, Textile and Garments, strategic Action Plan for the Development
of Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes Nationwide and Revitalization of
Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria, made far reaching
recommendations based on their terms of reference.
For instance, the committee on the resuscitation Cotton,
Textile and Garments (CTG) called for the injection of N37.20 billion in
the sector between 2016 and 2019 as well as the exploitation of the
existing N100Billion CTG fund domiciled with the Bank of Industry which
has now been converted to equity.
This, the committee said will support as working
capital/retooling of operational textile mills and resuscitation of
about 80 closed mills as well as 23 closed ginneries.
The proposed N37.20billion the committed said should be used to support all sections of the cotton, textile and garments sector.
It emphasized the need for improvement of cotton
production through financial support for the Institute for Agriculture
Research of the Ahmadu Bello University to enable it upgrade its
facilities and build the capacity of staff.
It also recommended financial support for the National
Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)to enable it deploy
Biotechnology (BT)Cotton at confined fields at trial level while the
Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Introgress BT Protein in
existing varieties as well as produce of double haploid cotton.
On Cotton seed multiplication and seed supply, the
Committee recommended a virile and systematic breeder foundation and
certified seed regeneration system, while mandating the National
Agricultural seed Council (NASC) to always certify and regulate the
Cotton seed industry.
Part of the recommendation of the committee on ginnery
development was for operational ginneries to work with Nigeria Incentive
Based Risk sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Bank of
Agriculture (BOA) through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES)
to increase quantity and quality of seed cotton and lint.
It also recommended that on seed cotton marketing, the
Agriculture Ministry (FMARD) and Ministry of Trade and Investment
(FMITT) should work closely to establish the Cotton Corporation of
Nigeria (CCN) to revive Cotton Production and Competitiveness.
The Committee stipulated policy support in terms of
Federal, State, Local Governments and Private sector patronage of made -
in -Nigeria fabrics.
The committee on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes
Nationwide, in its recommendations, having observed the enormous
challenges including urbanization, lack of right to land, increased
livestock production activities which have limited the success envisaged
from the various interventions, called for the establishment of a
National Programme on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes development;
strengthening of existing conflict resolution and prevention mechanisms.
The Committee also recommended the establishment of a
National Livestock Development Authority that would have the mandate for
the implementation of a national livestock breeding policy, while also
pushing for the development of grazing reserves and Stock Routes.
Part of the Committee's recommendation was also the
diversification of the Agricultural Sector with more attention and
emphasis on the Livestock Sub-sector.
The Committee on the Revitalization of Agricultural
Extension Services urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to set up the
necessary mechanism for the formulation of a National policy on
Agricultural Extension and Advisory services as a matter of urgency,
which must include a sustainable, knowledge-based, market-oriented and
ICT-driven Value Chain extension system.
The Committee recommended the establishment of an adequate
and consistent source of fund for agricultural extension advisory
service at all levels of government, backed by legislation. It stressed
the need for the strengthening of the Federal Department of Agricultural
Extension to enable it formulate Policy, co-ordinate, regulate and
supervise extension service delivery in Nigeria.
Part of the recommendations of the committee was that
state governments should re-activate and adequately fund their
Agricultural Development Programs (ADP's) to enable them perform
effectively their statutorily roles at the grassroots.
The committee recommended the establishment at the
National, State and Local Government levels Agricultural Extension
Implementation steering committees to perform over sight and
co-ordinating functions.
The committee on the Operationalization of Federal
Government storage and Agro Processing facilities in its recommendations
called on government to fast track the on-going silo concessioning to
conclusion within the next six months and also consider the immediate
leasing/ concessioning of the other structures to include
Agro-Processing Centres, Farmers Market and Agro-Industrial Estates.
It recommended that the Food and Strategic Reserve
Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
be transformed and empowered to become a regulatory, supervisory and
monitoring agency to ensure strict compliance by all grain storage
operators, lessees and concessionaires with the terms of all applicable
agreements, grain quality control including Codex Standards, grains
stock monitoring, grain marketing operations and others.
The Agency according to committees' recommendation will
also implement the Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) through the Buyer of
Last Resort (BLR) and liaise closely with States to implement Buffer
Stock Storage Programme for price stabilization. The Agency when
established will work closely with both Research and Extension services
to improve the On-Farm Storage Scheme for farmers.
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