For the country to attain its food sufficiency dream, it is essential that the Federal Government propose policies to aid the country’s agricultural system, including decentralisation, regional trade, and private sector involvement.
If this path is followed, stakeholders say, it will not only rejuvenate the sector, but will also stimulate private participation, in order to return the sector to its boom era.
A farmer and an Agric-Consultant, Africanfarmer Mogaji, during a session recently held at Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) X-space, underscored the importance of collaboration, social inclusion, and equity in achieving sustainable agricultural system.
While emphasising the need to focus on innovation and inclusion in the country’s agricultural system, to develop the sector, Mogaji highlighted the need for simple, adaptable innovations that cater for rural communities, who make up over 70 per cent of agriculture players.
He suggested models that separate men and women farmers to promote healthy competition and empowerment. He also stressed the need to measure the success of innovative practices through intermediate tracking, mindset change, and social impact.
As an Ashoka Fellow, Mogaji shared inspiring examples of inclusive and innovative agricultural practices from India, such as government subsidies for rural farmers and innovative farming techniques.
He further proposed policies to aid Nigeria’s agricultural system, including decentralisation, regional trade, and private sector involvement.
Mogaji painted a best-case scenario for Nigeria in 20 years, emphasising the need for a president who can take tough decisions and support from the private sector.
He identified policy somersault and wrong data as major roadblocks to innovation adoption, while encouraging young and aspiring agribusiness leaders to get involved in driving positive change by finding mentors, belonging to groups, and connecting with people who have gone ahead in the field.
The Chief Executive Officer, Green Sahara Farms, Plateau State, Suleiman Dikwa, regretted that the issue of insecurity, which has denied many farmers access to land has contributed largely to the current woe of the sector, saying land has always been available in rural areas
“Due to the rise in cost of living and inputs, it infers that farmers may not be able to cultivate in such areas where land should be rented and it’s implication on food security and poverty and it may push more young people into banditry and kidnapping.”
He said government at all levels should embrace sustainable models that are capable of transforming the fortunate of the sector. “It is very easy for the government and other stakeholders to address this, especially now that people are being wooed to go into farming. In the past, the river basins provided irrigated land for farmers to cultivate crops. This is a sustainable model and also offers the opportunity for year-round farming, which government should embrace.
“We have been investing in giant buildings around Nigeria with no economy value, and now it’s time to rethink investments by developing irrigated farm estate, which actually provided more return on investment than real estates.”