Editorial- Making effective the recently approved commodities policy

The recent Federal Executive Council (FEC)- approved policy making it illegal for foreigners to buy from farmers directly at the farm gates is a welcomed development. We say this because the approval which was based on a memo presented on the matter by the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investments, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, is a timely response to the yearning of mostly commodity Associations, especially the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) who had recently made the call.

We are commending this for several reasons: 

1.It will 'cover' Nigeria's nakedness as a country because exposing our rural areas and farmers to foreigners is fraught with danger in terms of security;

 2. The execution of the policy to the letter will create jobs for Nigerians who would be encouraged to fill the void to be created through the policy by getting into the business of sourcing commodities from the farms for delivery to processors and exporters; 

3.It will also ensure that only good quality produce is allowed to get to the exporters and processors;

 4. It will strengthen the value chain as every participant would know his boundary and guard it jealously for the good of all; 

5. It will also ensure that every stakeholder pays adequately for whatever quantity of produce he takes from the chain, meaning that the farmers who at the lowest wrung of the ladder would be better rewarded for their sweat better than what it was previously; and finally, 

6. Every participant would benefit from the ensuing changes provided the following initiatives are put in place.

 1.The proper definition of the role to be played by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for it is not uncommon to hear that many of the foreigners came into Nigeria with mere visitors' visa and later settling down doing business in the country. How does the NIS handle that? With proper documentation and monitoring of the foreigners, this is achievable if the officials are put on their toes.

Also necessary is the putting in place of an information network that would enable citizens to report any breach of the law by any foreigner. 

Another issue is the need to put in place a punishment for anybody caught violating the law. The punishment must be severe enough to serve as a deterrent to would- be offenders.

The following are equally very important:

1. Strengthening of quality control capabilities of the commodity associations through its apex body , Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN).

2. Technical support from academic institutions through research and development; 

3.Extension services to farmers along with dissemination of relevant information;

4.Deliberately make farming lucrative through availability of finance;

5.Incentives to encourage value addition of the commodities;

6.Putting in place policy guideline for the development of commodity value chains;

7.Integration and collaboration of all players in the value chain; etc.

We believe all these measures will make a big difference to enhance productivity of  agricultural produce in Nigeria.