Agriculture: Cultivating a new farming culture in Nigeria

Burdened by the stumpy involvement in farming activities by Nigerians, especially the young generation, Mr. Y.M Popoola, a Principal in Ilesha once lamented, “Seventy per cent of Nigerian farmers are old people and they are going one by one. One day, they will vanish. Then what will be the future of Nigeria in terms of food security?”

The yet gibbering global crisis precipitated by soaring food prices has thrown a spotlight on the low productivity in agriculture across Africa. From one country to another, the predicaments exist in their varieties; patchy access to credit, absence of high-yielding seeds, high cost of modern equipment, difficulty in obtaining fertilizer, limited outreach programmes offering technical training, nearly non-existent irrigation systems; undulating roads, absence of information on fair prices, et.c.

It is poignant however, to observe that while countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe, are working towards putting up with the dearth of food supply at least in their domain, Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is still dwelling in “an exhaustible oil”, rather than take a critical look at sustainable parts of her economy. It is quite obvious that the surging crude prices of the 70s and 80s, which flooded the economy with waves of cash triggered a unique case of “Dutch disease” which was evident in the over-valuation of the naira. Consequently, the export sector became less competitive and imports, a more affordable luxury.

Without apology, farm exports fell from 90 per cent to 3 per cent of total export earnings. A scenario that left Nigeria, one time world's leading exporter of palm oil and peanuts, impecunious and a major importer of virtually everything her citizens need to survive, exclusive of air and water.

At independence, agriculture accounted for about 60 per cent of Gross Domestic Product; but due to collapse of cash cropping, oil, by contrast now accounts for 80 per cent of Federal government revenue. A trend which also malformed the mentality of rural dwellers.

Blaine Harden once wrote; “A generation was weaned on avarice. Corruption hypnotised the national psyche.”
In the words of Popoola, “oil made us crazy. You do not have to make an effort with oil because it is naturally there. But, in agriculture you have to make an effort. The land is what is naturally there; not the food.”

While Nigerians deserted the peaceful and more natural rural areas for the cities in a rush to tap into the oil money, Ghana has secured people, inclusive of the young generation, already decided on being successful farmers. Little do Nigerian students accept farming as a viable profession. The usual echo remains; I want to be an engineer, a doctor, banker, pharmacist, lawyer and a host of others. The option of being an agriculturalist or professional farmer is relegated.
Unfortunately, the government has refused to appreciate the challenges confronting the nation with regard to unavailability of food.

As a nation endowed with land, mineral and aquatic splendor, we have no business importing raw or finished food from anywhere else. But alas, not only does Nigeria currently imports agricultural produce; even refined oil has since joined the list of imports.

Regrettably, successive governments' drive towards reviving the agricultural sector has not yielded desired outcome. This obviously, is hinged on policy inconsistency, on which all other reasons depend. Apprehensive of the deteriorating situation, some experts converged in Abuja to brainstorm on practical ways to salvage the sector.

Top among their submissions was that President Umaru Yar'Adua should implement his predecessor's (Obasanjo's) agricultural policies without further delay as they were well thought of. The policy was corroborated by key resource persons, Prof. Ikenna Onyido, Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Dr. Eme Okoro, former National Project Co-ordinator, Cassava Mosaic Disease, that the policy will invigorate the sector as it encompasses oil seeds, palm produce, rice, cassava and food security.

To confirm that inconsistency of policy is the problem, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Abba Ruma lately traveled to Nebraska, United States, in search of technology to boost food production in a country that was 60 per cent sufficient in agriculture at independence.

It is time we appreciated the cruel effects of a full fledge food scarcity and employ every avenue as it abounds here, to rescue the nation from the consequence of neglect.

President Yar'adua and his team should adjust their lenses to have a clearer image of our agriculture quandary.
The nation's academic curriculum at basic levels needs to be structured to promote agricultural activities. Gardening should be encouraged around homes. While, the children are motivated to appreciate the wonders of nature.
The Government in turn must be ready to earmark sufficient funds to facilitate the project. They should not only be magnanimous in financing projects that lack national interest.

If at forty-eight, Nigerian leaders still pretend not to know that we have not exploited our natural endowments judiciously; I wonder when we shall shift from our nights of dreams to face realities. A stitch in time saves nine!