Reflection-Change of power, Agricultural development

Solder goes, solder comes, and barrack always remains, says a popular parlance that can be related to mean agriculture as an economy in Nigeria will always remain as the bedrock of Nigeria economy as many administrations are coming in and out in spite of improperly tapped resources of the sector due to policy somersault as every new government wants to do things differently from others. 
 

In the last ten years I have concentrated majorly in the reporting of this sector, one has been able to identify inconsistence policy in this sector as each administration through its minister of Agriculture and other economic team wants to do things differently even at the expense of the same subject is presumed to be working for thereby bringing the whole sector back to square one. 

The administration of the immediate past minister and that of Minister of Agriculture during late Yar’ Adua administration, Dr. Abba Ruma were very eventful to my own experience in this sector in terms of repositioning the sector into business ventures rather than developmental which was evident with their policy direction in terms of agricultural commercial production with private sector involvement, although with one or two variance in terms of style and approaches.

For example the commercial agriculture programme initiated programme of World Bank and Federal Government, and the commencement of 100 million metric ton capacity silo construction cum agro inputs centres during the time of Dr. Ruma are still very relevant even in the last administration of Dr. Adesina when the silo was completed and commissioned with many other inputs centres created. 

While to my mind the two administrations pursued commercial agriculture but with different approaches as while one concentrated on bigger farmers, the immediate past one lay emphasis on smaller ones.  This example is coming on the basis of impact of policy somersault in the development of agriculture in Nigeria which consistency of policy would have helped a lot. At 55 years, the state of our economy is still very dragging especially in terms of development due to egoism of credit personality at the expense of the entire population thereby killing our food security drive which must not be allowed in this present dispensation of President Muhammudu Buhari who has identified with policy continuity in the sector.

No doubt many things went wrong in the last administration which has affected its level of being able to addressing its aim and objectives despite of its many achievement, which such areas of challenges can be looked into for better repositioning of the Agricultural Transformation agenda in such a way that will positively affected both the small scale and large farmers holders in the face of ensuring the sector’s taking leadership in the revenue generation in replacement of crude oil.   

As ministerial nominees are being screened at National Assembly, I want to emphasis on the need for a proactive personality who will understand the dynamism of  policy continuity with adjustment where is very necessary for the benefit of entire country in this particular real sector of the food security economy as crude oil is facing dwindling price challenges day by day, Nigeria cannot avoid to slack in its repositioning of Agriculture in more commercialized ways for economic earning and job creation.

The last administration has been able to put in place Agricultural Transformation Agenda programme (ATA) which to some extend has given some level of direction in terms of inputs support to stimulate commercial production towards processing to checkmate food imports gulping billions of naira in the country as there are many areas of lapses that needed to be well positioned which the incoming administration must endeavor to look into and model more efficient programme around thereby enhancing those deficiency for the betterment of all Nigerians as regards food security. 

I have no doubt in me that the next Minister of Agriculture must be another dynamic man of vision for the sector because the nation cannot avoid not to create a big vacuum the former has been left behind which must be filled with another experienced mind that has the love and passion for the development of the sector.

One common interest I know in Nigeria is Agriculture and football. Foods do not discriminate against colour and tribe, but its economy rather synergize in terms of production, processing and marketing. 

No wonder the the Eko rice processing centre in Lagos state depends so on much on paddy productions in Kebbi and Niger states for her processing. It is worthy of mentioning on this piece that the President has shown his serious commitment and continuity to agricultural development programme which must not be jettisoned by anybody for personal interest. I want to wish the next Minister of Agriculture well with much expectation of positive change that will be worthy of reporting to our readers.