A civil society calls for wheat reform inputs

 

A strong voice in the advocacy of Agricultural Development in Nigeria, ActionAid has called for a more proactive instrument of wheat inputs distribution in Nigeria, saying this would fast track the trickling down of the produce to intended people.

ActionAid stressed that urgent reform in the National Agricultural Growth Scheme- Agro Pocket ( NAGS-AP) would enhance wheat productivity towards food security among the women, youths and persons with disabilities.

The civil society organization through its Deputy Country Director, Mrs. Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo raised concerns over the implementation process of NAGS-AP on wheat productivity saying that an assessment survey of his organization has confirmed the need for better reform of NAGS-AP toward transparent inputs distribution in Nigeria.

Dankabo said that the implementation of wheat component of the NAGS-AP intervention during the 2023/24, and 2024/25 dry season farming period had confirmed the need for more inputs' transparency towards more food security impacts to reduce wheat importation.

ActionAid Nigeria queried whether the purpose of reducing wheat import into the country through African Development Bank's $134 million loan support actually achieves its targets saying that "When public resources of this magnitude are deployed, citizens and farmers have a right to know whether the programme is delivering results. Our responsibility as a civil society organisation is to ensure that official claims are measured with the life experiences of farmers on the ground"

" Findings from the assessment showed that although the NAGS-AP wheat programme recorded some positive outcomes, its overall impact on national wheat self-sufficiency remains limited. The report estimated wheat output at approximately 474,628 metric tonnes during the reviewed period"

The key challenges according to ActionAid survey affecting the inputs' performance include delayed distribution, limited access to quality seeds, inadequate extension services, financial barriers faced by small holder farmers, weak coordination mechanisms, and allegations of corruption in the implementation process.

However, ActionAid Nigeria recommended the development of a National Wheat Seed Multiplication Strategy, the establishment of zonal wheat suitability frameworks, and the introduction of gender-sensitive agricultural financing mechanisms.

The organisation also called on the NAGS-AP Project to enforce strict seed delivery timelines before the end of October each year with list of verifiable beneficiaries at ward levels using also public dashboards for effective programme monitoring.

ActionAids also recommended in the report the recruitment and training of more agricultural extension workers, including female agents, as well as improved support and funding for Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) offices.

ActionAid further urged civil society groups and non-state actors to utilise the freedom of information act to demand accountability, sustain independent programme monitoring, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.