Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developm : FOUR NATIONAL COMMITTEES ON AGRICULTURE SUBMIT REPORTS

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.