Editorial- Agriculture: The need for Southwest governments to wake up

There is a need for the Southwest governments to wake up from their slumber with regards to harnessing great economic potential in Agriculture as their counterparts from the other regions are not giving any chances despite of insurgency.

In the days preceding the descent into unitary system of governance, the Western Nigeria, under the governance of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a force to reckon with in agricultural production; and it is on record that virtually all the funds used in executing the laudable programmes of the then government, including such remarkable landmarks such as the 25-storey Cocoa House, the Western Nigeria Television/ Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service, Liberty Stadium, free education programme, etc.., were evidences of what were achieved with agriculture, then.

But wither the cocoa business of that glorious era today? The farms have all become moribund with farmers auctioning their farms for a pittance, sometimes for a sum as ridiculous as 40,000 naira for an acre of farmland. This wakeup call, as a matter of fact, has become something inevitable especially in the face of youth unemployment more so as there is great potential in agriculture to create jobs.

Most of the recent governors, unlike Chief Awolowo, have thrown away the ethos that says ‘farming is our main occupation in Yorubaland’. Instead, they have eulogized politics as the main preoccupation, as an end itself, rather than as a means to an end. And because of their political ambition, have given agricultural land to strangers to settle.

Most of the states in this zone do not seize the opportunity and advantages of the Federal Government (FG) counterparts funding projects tailored towards provision of basic infrastructures and injection of new improved technologies into agricultural activities along the food value chains, and even when they do, their counterpart payments are always dragging, according to findings, thereby making the programme unable to achieve its purpose of economic empowerment and job creation in the sector. Although we are not unmindful of one or two of them particularly Ogun and Lagos who have recently become foremost in agricultural programmes with cassava and rice in Ogun state, and Imota rice processing mill in Lagos.

With the recent series of protests across the country, and the spike in food prices, the omens are bad that if nothing is done to engage the youths productively as there is danger ahead of which the impact would be more grievous in the south west due to great abandonment of farming activities among the youths. We are particular about this region based on the priority of the government to agriculture which are not as conspicuous as we can see in the north and even in east where billions of naira are being injected by the governors into agriculture through partnership with the Federal Government projects like Fadama 111 AF, FG/IFAD project and ATASP-phase 1, and lately, the National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA)’s intervention.

Even though farming itself doesn’t employ as many as does industrialisation, the produce from farming should ginger industrialisation in those states. Now, the states have a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea: it is either they engage the youths productively or reap the rewards of not doing so.

We are of the view that the appointment of real agricultural experts with passion for farming as agric commissioners as in the case of Ogun state must be replicated in all the states to drive the agricultural activities of the states in order to quickly close the food gap already created in the zone.

There should be a deliberate step by the various governments to engage the youth in agriculture. For the youth, farming as an option should be an attractive choice through proper value chain developments and off-taking arrangements.

Also important is cooperation among the states: for example, the replication of the Lake Rice agreement (which existed between Kebbi and Lagos states) among Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti. While Lagos hosts the mill, let the paddy come from Ofada (Ogun state), Erin Ijesha (Osun state), and Igbemo (Ekiti state). Let there be strong synergy between all the states without necessarily jettisoning the cooperation between Lagos and Kebbi.

Of recent, insecurity is becoming uncontrollable and widespread to the point that our farmers are being daily killed unabatedly: there should be plans to safeguard the farmers and farming or else Nigeria is doomed.