Agricultural report buttresses critics’ position on performance

Farm Produce

·         Agric  value chains suffer neglect

 The allegations of nonperformance in the agricultural sector in the last three years by critics has been buttressed by the statistical report of the National Agricultural Extension & Liaison Services (NAERLS) as the sector was underscored for not impacting on farmers for higher food productivity, just as incoherent operation in Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has been attributed to value chain crops neglect.

Many stakeholders especially farmers have complained of government’s neglect by the FMARD, states and local governments saying the high cost of production and non-availability of inputs and other factors like insecurity and climate change have hindered performance of the sector in the last three years as budget delay and procurement procedure are too cumbersome to encourage timely attendance to food security matters in the country.

Majority of the farmers who spoke with Food Farm News complained of non-support from the government stressing that the FMARD in the last two years had not really released much fund that could impact on agricultural activities to achieve the expected commercialization that would checkmate food import as the activities expected through the value chain desks have not been very proactive due to lack of fund release to carry out the needed programme of inputs and mechanization supports.

 Farmers queried government for not living up to her promises on commercialization of agriculture to checkmating foods import and wealth creation to farmers and job for the youths and women saying the value chains desk in the FMARD have been made redundant as there were disconnect between the minister’s office and many of the departments as the usual weekly interface for activities feedback have been scrapped. All these according to critics are hindering performance.

However, the recently released survey jointly produced by the NAERLS and other agencies including the FMARD has substantiated all the complaints by farmers as agricultural performance was underscored towards food security for the year 2017.

The NAERLS recommendation stated that “the 2017 wet season agricultural survey in Nigeria was conducted with the support and collaboration of all states of Agricultural Development Programmes and Ministries of Agriculture. The study documented several constraints, ranging from the challenges of climate change and absence of government input support, through insecurity and kidnapping, to those of poor agricultural extension activities. These constraints affected all the sub sectors of agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, and agroforestry) along the value chains. These challenges, notwithstanding, the study noted increased land areas of production. The survey forecasts production of at least 35% above that of 2016 in all areas of agriculture. However, this is expected to be marginal for livestock and aquaculture. Nevertheless, overall farm yields would remain below the African averages for all the subsectors. Based on the various observations, findings and challenges from the field, the following recommendations were made

i)                    Promotion of research and extension responses to the challenges of climate change: the impact of climate change on agricultural production in the country is becoming more apparent each year. In 2017, Nigeria witnessed excess rainfall with irregular distribution and several incidences of flood, erosion, dry spell, diseases and pests, which affected crop, livestock and fisheries productivity. This situation raises the scope for increased funding for and focus on research and extension activities towards mitigating the effects of climate change.

ii)                   Strengthening the capacity of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) and all other agencies involved with agricultural data captured: the level of accuracy of data in planning cannot be overemphasized. The level of accuracy of data generated however a direct bearing on the appropriateness and effectiveness of plans and policies generated/ formulated based on data. Data captured at the grassroots level by the ADPs is currently very weak and needs to be supported for improved results. A collective action of relevant stakeholders is highly desirable.

iii)                 Effective subsidy as strategy for enhancing agricultural production- the study recorded appreciable government support and intervention programme in several states. However, many of the supports were ineffective, as majority of the farmers could not access such supports. Therefore, a cost effective and efficient subsidy application system across the value chain is highly desirable.

Iv)    Conscientious promotion of agricultural mechanization as a national priority: the survey observed that about five states acquired new tractors to increase mechanization. Despite this and the government’s effort at providing mechanization inputs nationwide, the survey noted that most farmers are still using hand-tools for farm operation. There is the need for government to intensify efforts using Public-Private Partnership platform to promote the use of appropriate mechanization technologies especially small scale tillage and processing machineries. Concerted efforts should be made to repair and maintain the huge number of non- functional tractors across the nation.

v. The need to open virgin lands for agribusiness: The cost of opening new land for agriculture is high and in some cases such as Rivers, Bayelsa, Ogun, Edo and Benue states is prohibitive. For example, it took as much as N120, 000 to N150, 000 to manually clear one hectare, in Ijebu land because of the huge tree felling and de-stumping. To achieve the desired field crop expansion and promote profitable farming, therefore, government land clearing units should be revived to open up more arable land.

Improve Funding and Recruitment of Extension personel: Dwindling funding for capital projects, shortage of staff, inadequate training and lack of mobility were observed as the major challenges of extension delivery nationwide. There was also the problem of inadequate extension delivery packages (in the form of broadcasts, prints, field demonstration, visits, etc) therefore, there is an urgent need for the state Government to provide needed funds, recruit more personnel and build their capacity to strengthen extension service delivery in the states.

Recruitment of N-Power (Agro) Volunteers: The survey observed that N-power (Agro) volunteers in many states are atively participating in the extension advisory services. States are encouraged to actively engage them for their volunteer period. This category of personnel is a potential pool for recruitment by the states as agric extension staff.

Viii. Collaboration and policies to strengthen agricultural broadcast: agricultural media packages and broadcasts in the country are gradually fading out due to inability fo many producers to pay for the air time. The cost of production and airtime are far beyond what the states ADPs can bear.it takes, for example, about N6million to produce and air a 30- mintutuesprogramme on state radio for one year. With almost zero capital budget relelase for ADPs, 34 states could not produce or air a single radio programme in 2017. This has been the trend for a while. Government should also make apprioprate polities on broadcasting, through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that would mandate radio and television houses to dedicate a certain percentage of their programme to agriculture towards transforming the sector.

IX. Strengthening of e- Extension centres to boost agricultural advisory delivery: the survey found that the zeal of farmers to expand agricultural activities was not equally matched with the requisite knowledge of for improved farm management practices. Besides, the average ratio of extension agent to farm families has remained astronomically high-up to 1:17,000 for some states, instead of the FAO recommended 1: 500-800. Nigeria should leverage on the use of ICT to reach out to teeming farming population real-time online. In this regards, the national Farmers’ Helpline Centre and the zonal hubs should be urgently and adequately supported to fully operational.

X. Dealing with the scourge of insecurity: One of the outstanding findings of this survey was the threat of insecurity to the busness of agriculture across the country. This threat was mainly in the form of farmers/ herdsmen conflicts, kidnapping, militancy/ insurgency, cattle rustling and communal clashes/ land disputes. The menace was first strongly reported in the 2011 survey and since then in subsequence survey. Proactive strategies involving all stakeholders towards controlling and eventual elimination of these security challenges should be developed and implemented.

X1. Creation of policy environment for accelerating agricultural industrialization: one consistent issue considered worrisome in the field was adulteration of inputs. The farmers are consistently exposed to poisonous and ineffective inputs at the expense of national food safety and security. Also, at various border towns in Ogun, Nigeri, Benue, Sokoto, and Katsina states, the survey team observed the thriving ‘ business’ of smuggling cheap and ‘expired’ agricultural produce into Nigeria from neighboring countries. These activities serve as disincentive to farmers, especially along the border towns. Border patrol and control activities of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Custom Services, Nigeria police Force, and the military should be strengthened and made effective. Law against smuggling should be strongly enforced