Agricultural Development Strategy in the New Political Dispensation By M. K. Othman (PhD) Assistant Director (Extension, Training and Outreach) NAERLS/ABU Zaria

NAERLS FORUM

Scientist and All Farmers' Association of Nigeria at two days seminal on Agricultural Development Strategy in the New Political Dispensation 

Agric - Vet Complex of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in collaboration with All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) organized a 2 - day Seminar titled “Agricultural Development Strategy in the New Political Dispensation”. The complex comprises the Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; the University based Research Institutes (IAR, NAERLS and NAPRI), Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the University Farm as well as the Division of Agricultural Colleges.   

The Seminar was aimed at creating a forum for interaction among key stakeholders to generate ideas useful for developing agriculture in the new political dispensation. There is a general concern that agriculture should occupy its rightful place in the national economy as a reliable means of sustaining the economy as well as creating jobs to millions of Nigerians. Several potentials exist in agricultural sector, for example, soybean production can be intensified to replace crude oil. 
 

The Seminar was held from 21st to 22nd May. 2015 at the Conference Hall of NAERLS and was Chaired by the Former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Shehu U. Abdullahi while the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba played the roles of Chief Host. The Seminar was graced by important dignitaries from Universities, Research Institutes, Prominent Farmers and Traditional Rulers.  

 Among the important guests were Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, the National President of AFAN, Hon. Munir Babbab Dan’agundi, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture during the 7th National Assembly, Senator  Abu Ibrahim, Prof. B. Y. Abubakar, Executive Secretary of ARCN, represented by Prof. M. D. Magaji, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria represented by Prof. Akpan, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Deputy National President of AFAN and 36 States Chairmen of AFAN and many others important personalities.

Five papers and one keynote address were presented by selected scholars and prominent farmers during the two days National Seminar. The Seminar was the first of its kind and it was done to elicit and generate discussion among the stakeholders to find solutions for myriad of teething problems militating against Agricultural Development in Nigeria. The Keynote Address titled “Reform and Restructuring of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria” was presented by ES of ARCN, Prof. B. Y. Abubakar. Other papers were presented during the two Technical Sessions, which followed immediately after the opening Ceremony and Preliminary Sessions. The titles, presenters and discussants of the five papers are:

1.     Problems and Prospects of Agriculture in Nigeria  by Dr. I. Y. Ilu, Chairman,  Agric - Vet Complex of ABU Zaria, the paper was thoroughly discussed by Prof. M. S. Kalla and Dr. G. Kwanashe

2.    Policy Enabling Environment and Institutional Frame Work for Enhance Agricultural Development by Prof. S, Z, Abubakar, Vice Chancellor, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri while Prof. Lawal  S a’idu, Prof. M. D. Magaji & Prof. P.I Rekwot discussed the paper

3.    Research and Development as Foundation for Solid presented by Prof. S.G Ado, Vice Chancellor, Al-Kalam University, Katsina while Prof. J.E. Onyibe & Prof. A. Suleiman discussed the paper

4.    Organizing Farmers for Enhancing Agricultural Development by Mal. S.S. Abubakar, Former Executive Director, NAERLS, ABU Zaria and the paper was discussed by Prof. Sani Miko and Arc. Kabir Ibrahim

5.    Budgets and Finances of Agriculture by Dr. Abba Y. Abdullahi, Agricultural Consultant and President, Fisheries Society of Nigeria and the paper was discussed by Prof. M.B Auwalu & Mrs. Nana Basheer.

The first Technical Session was chaired by Prof. T. J. Arokoyo, a renowned Professor of Agricultural Extension and International Expert of Agricultural Communication. The second Session was equally chaired a renowned Professor of Irrigation Agronomy, Prof. I. U. Abubakar, Immediate Past President, Nigerian Society of Agriculturalists and the current Executive Director of IAR, ABU Zaria. No doubt, the three sessions (technical and preliminary) were stormy with cross carpeting ideas on the problems, solutions and way forward. It was apparent that soft spots of the stakeholders were touched and there was serious concern on the face of every participant indicating something urgent has to be done to address these myriad of agricultural challenges in the country.

At the end of the workshop, a BLUE PRINT on the strategy to move agriculture forward so that it can occupy its rightful position in National Development was formulated. Major issues concerning Nigerian Agriculture were listed and problems militating against such issues were identified. The Blue Print went further to propose possible solutions to the identified problems, identified relevant government agencies and organizations responsible for the implementation of the proposed solutions. Strategies for implementation of the proposed solutions to the identified problems were similarly proffered. The Blue Print is summarised as follows: 

1. Research and extension for development: The Identified problems are

a.    Unstable policy environment

b.    Institutional failures (observed weaknesses in research and extension)

c.    ARCN is a coordinating council with no control mechanism on the activities of National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs)

d.    Weak linkage between ARCN and the NARIs

e.    Weak linkage between Research Centres/Institutes and Industries

f.    Poor funding of Agricultural Research and erratic releases of the budgeted funds

g.    Widespread poverty especially in the rural area.

h.    High level of unemployment especially among youths.

i.     Youth restiveness.

j.     High post-harvest losses.

k.  Low agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

 The proposed solutions or Interventions are:

a.    Restructuring and strengthening of ARCN into a research managing council through appropriate legal and administrative instruments.

b.    Reform of the research funding system towards greater financial autonomy, such as the establishment of an Agricultural Research Fund.

c.    For effective research-extension linkage, ARCN should   establish KVK-like (Indian krishi vigyan kendras) Technology Transfer Centres to be called Agricultural Research Technology Transfer Centers (ARTTC) in all local Government Areas of the Country.

d.    Continuing with the value chain approach for agricultural commodities development as obtainable in Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

e.    Start the training of middle cadre agricultural business managers to provide the needed manpower to operate the approach.

f.    Start agricultural business courses (70 % practical and 30% theory) in universities and polytechnics immediately in order to engage youths in self-reliance ventures.

The organizations proposed to be responsible for the interventions are:

a)     Federal Government

b)   NARIs

c)    Agricultural universities and colleges

d)   Nigerian National Assembly

The Implementation strategies proposed for the interventions are

a)    Use the existing agro-ecological zone and emphasis of what each zone can produce (comparative advantages in the zones).

b)   Facilitate establishment of large scale product processing for perishable commodities like beef, vegetables, fruits, etc. through PPP.

c)    Part of money spent on importation should be spent on research for development.

d)   Subsidy should be strategically applied where applicable along the value chain of agricultural commodities. 

2. Agricultural policy, the Identified problems are;

a)    Provisions for agriculture development in Nigerian constitution are inadequate.

b)   The majority of the Local government Authorities have abandoned most of their duties to agriculture.

c)    The third tier of government is hollow in terms of their involvement in agriculture.

d)   National Council on Agriculture  (NCA) does not have legal backing; it serve only advisory roles.

e)   Inconsistency of agricultural policy through abandonment of previous agricultural programmes and projects.

f)    Adulterated inputs and produce (problem of quality control).

The proposed solutions or Interventions are:

a)    Differentiation of functions for the 3 tiers of government to actualize the intent of the concurrency of agriculture in the Nigerian Constitution.

b)   Streamline the functions of parastatals to eliminate duplications (see Oransanye Report).

c)    Transferring the River Basins facilities to the States where they are located.

d)   Standard Organization of Nigeria should standardize inputs and outputs of Agriculture.

e)   Build the capacity of produce inspectorate to ensure standardization of produce.

f)    Agricultural experts with passion for developments should be appointed as Minister and Commissioners of Agriculture at the Federal and State levels, respectively.

g)   Improved inter-ministerial cooperation and interactions (synergy).

h)   Licenses for importation of agricultural commodities (where applicable) should be given by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

i)     Farmers should be mobilized by their groups to access funds from Central Bank of Nigeria.

j)    Policy continuation should be promoted. We are still not food and nutrition secured because of inconsistency of policy.

k)   Provide legal backing for platforms like National Council for Agriculture (NCA), State Council for Agriculture (SCA) to be able to enforce compliance of resolutions.

l)     Increase Government annual budget to Agriculture to a minimum of 10%.

m)  Ensure Guaranteed Minimum Price for food crops (warehouse receipt system should be adopted to stabilize price).

n)    Revise the Land Use Act to discourage fragmentation and enable easier access to land for investors.

The organizations proposed to be responsible for the interventions are:

a)    Law makers

b)   The three tiers of government

c)    Regulators

d)   Operators

e)   Service providers

f)    Facilitators

g)   Advocates 

The Implementation strategies proposed for the interventions are:

a)    Create and develop of the relevant institutions to discharge the functions assigned to each tier of Government.

b)   Develop supportive guidelines to enable each tier internalize the new paradigm.

c)    Develop codes and standards for practices, services, produce and products of Agriculture.

d)   Make a comprehensive cadastral mapping of land in Nigeria.

e)   Provide credit in kind (following irrigation field’s example of Sudan).

f)    Restrict importation on commodities that can easily be produced in Nigeria.

3. Farmers’ organization; the identified problems are:

a)    Producers are not organized strong enough to carry out their functions and responsibilities.

b)   Most farmers’ groups in Nigeria are intervention responsive and their lives and sustain abilities are dependent on how long the intervention last.

c)    Smallholder farmers are mostly not represented by Apex groups.

d)   Low income farmers have limited access to inputs (qualitatively and quantitatively)

e)   Low extension agents-farmer ratio.

The proposed solutions or Interventions are

a)    Capacity development for resource management by farmers’ group.

b)   Supply of inputs should be through small groups.

c)    Government should endeavor to continue with genuine registration of farmers’ registration.

d)   Facilitation and promotion of service providers in agricultural sector.

The organizations proposed to be responsible for the interventions are:

a)    Farmers’ apex body.

b)   Input dealers and other actors in the agricultural value chain

c)    Government

The Implementation strategy proposed for the intervention is to create farmers Organizations at various levels, which will be assigned very clear roles and duties and they should be empowered to play the roles under the guidance of expert service providers.

4. Agricultural Finance and Budgeting; the identified problems are;

a)    The one size fit all loan conditions offered by banks to famers has shown not to work in the interest of the famers.

b)   The requirement of collateral in securing loans has been the major hindrance to farmers accessing the necessary funds to boost their production.

c)    There is high unemployment and inflation – both currently rated at double digit.

d)   Factories are producing at less than 30% of installed capacity for lack of adequate raw materials from the farms.

e)   There is consequent high import bill on foods and a balance of payment disequilibrium.

The proposed solutions or Interventions are

a)    Loan with low interest rates should give loan to famers based on the knowledge and/or experience shown on their proposal to bank.

b)   Banks have to move out from banking halls to the farms in order to ascertain the capability of the farmer. 

c)    Agricultural development should not rely on provision of inputs, as is usually the case where government believes by providing fertilizer.

d)   The sector requires broad-spectrum approach to development process.

The organizations proposed to be responsible for the interventions are Producer organization (Value chain actors)

a)    Government

b)   Financial institutions

c)    Non-Government Organizations

The Implementation strategies proposed for the interventions are

a)    The over two trillion Naira Pension Funds should be rightly applied for agricultural development with good management and sense of committed patriotism to national wellbeing.

b)   The interventions from government and groups should focus on the followings:

                                     i.        Social (security, cultural, amenities, etc.).

                                    ii.        Economic (finance, market, policies, infrastructure, etc.).

                                  iii.        Environmental, political (inclusiveness in participatory policy formulation, research, budgeting, etc.).

                                   iv.        Value re-orientation (perception of agriculture as business as against means of livelihood).

The workshop was concluded with agreement and commitments by the stakeholders to work together and address the identified problems. NAERLS pledged to support farmers organization through capacity building on continuous basis and create avenue for effective linkages among the stakeholders.  AFAN Executive Officers were called upon to embark on sensitization campaign of farmers for collective action towards addressing problems militating against development of agriculture. Similarly, AFAN and NAERLS agreed mobilize local government chairmen and state governors to provide effective support for strengthening farmer organizations while addressing key issues on agricultural development. 

It was also agreed that the Seminar should be conducted on annual basis to discuss issues related to agricultural development in the country. At the end of the workshop, an advocacy committee was formed. The major task of the committee was to make advocacy to the relevant government officials for adoption of the Blue Print as  guidelines for the development of agriculture. The committee members are: 

1.     Dr. I. Y. Ilu, Chairman of Agric-Vet. Complex

2.    Professor  S.Z. Abubakar

3.    Arc. Kabir Ibrahim (AFAN National President)

4.    Hon. Munir Babbab Dan’agundi (V/Chairman House Committee on Agriculture)

5.    Senator  Abu Ibrahim

6.    Dr. Abba yakubu Abdullahi (AFAN)

7.    Chief Okapo (AFAN)

8.    Mrs. Nana Basheer

9.    Professor Sani Miko (SG 2000)

10. Chief Olaifa (AFAN Deputy National President)