The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agricultural

  • Securing the future of our agricultural sector

    Securing the future of our agricultural sector

    • By Michael Adedotun Oke

    Sir: For too long, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been weighed down by the “gravel” of security challenges. What should be a landscape of growth and food security has, in many regions, become a theatre of uncertainty. Farmers, who are the lifeblood of our nation, are facing more than just the traditional risks of weather and pests; they are navigating a terrain of banditry, theft, and unresolved land disputes.

    This environment of “life fear” has a paralyzing effect. When a farmer is afraid to step onto their field, the essential acts of planting and harvesting—the very foundation of our national survival—are compromised. My recent field observations in Gwagwalada reveal the desperate measures farmers are forced to take in the absence of formal protection, smallholder producers are now using cut wood logs as rudimentary perimeter barriers. While these represent a resourceful stop-gap, such labour-intensive and unsustainable methods highlight a systemic failure to provide basic rural security.

    Furthermore, the neglect of our designated forestry zones has turned vital ecological reserves into “ungoverned spaces.” Evidence of this neglect is visible in where trees are being unsustainably debarked for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) without oversight. These degraded, remote areas have become critical operational bases for armed non-state actors, directly fuelling the insecurity that prevents farmers from accessing their lands. Even our most innovative attempts at localized food security, such as integrated poultry and agroforestry, remain vulnerable when the broader infrastructure is too fragile to ensure safety and sustainable waste management.

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    To move ahead and push toward the “ultimate drops of success,” our approach to agricultural planning must evolve. We cannot treat security as an afterthought to farming; it must be integrated into the very setting of the sector through the following strategic pillars:

    Integrated security corridors: Establishing dedicated security outposts in high-production farming clusters ensure that farmers can work without looking over their shoulders.

    Technology-driven surveillance: Utilizing drones and satellite mapping to monitor remote farmlands allows for rapid response to threats before they escalate into full-scale displacement.

    Community-led intelligence: Planning must include the local farmers themselves. They are the first to see changes in the landscape, and their traditional knowledge is vital for pre-emptive security measures.

    The drive for success in agricultural practice is “keen”—the potential is massive, and the will of the people is strong. However, potential alone does not put food on the table. We need a fundamental shift in our national policy where the safety of the farmer is prioritized alongside the quality of the seed.

    When we remove the gravel of insecurity, we pave the way for a new era of productivity. By destroying the barriers of fear, we allow the sector to push forward, ensuring that our agricultural output doesn’t just trickle, but flows toward the ultimate goal of national self-sufficiency and economic resilience.

    •Michael Adedotun Oke,

    Abuja.

  • Urgent path to agricultural prosperity

    Urgent path to agricultural prosperity

    Sir: The future of farming in our region doesn’t lie solely in the soil; it’s being built on digital highways and powered by express innovation. It’s time to recognize and invest in the fusion of technology and logistics as the most powerful tool for agricultural promotion.

    Our farming communities are currently hampered by a critical lack of cohesion and market insight. We must implement practices that aggressively boost interactions among farmers. This isn’t just about social networking; it’s about building a robust, shared infrastructure that strengthens their price information ability.

    When digital tools provide real-time, verified market data, the “difference information” gap is closed. This transparency is the foundation for fair trade; ensuring farmers stop losing out to middlemen and begin selling with the confidence that comes from market knowledge. This is where meaningful agricultural promotion begins.

    The modern farmer must be more than just a cultivator; they must be a competent manager and entrepreneur. Digital innovation is essential for addressing the managerial and business aspects of farming. This includes:

    •Farm Management Software: Digital tools that simplify inventory, labour, and financial tracking, transforming the farm into a streamlined business.

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    •Facility Development: Using data to guide investments in crucial supportive infrastructure, like cold storage and processing centres, rather than relying on guesswork.

    By focusing on the development of facilities and providing training in these business-centric skills, we empower farmers to move beyond mere subsistence into commercial success.

    Ultimately, the goal is to increase both the yields and distribution efficiency of our agricultural produce. Using digital tools to promote agriculture means deploying precision farming technologies—sensors, drones, and AI—to maximize output while ensuring sustainable resource use.

    Crucially, digital platforms can revolutionize the distribution of food, goods, and services. By connecting producers directly to buyers via efficient, “express” logistics and supply chain systems, we drastically reduce post-harvest loss and enhance food security. This seamless flow, driven by different ideas for better distribution, is the ultimate measure of successful agricultural practice promotion.

    We must make the commitment now to fully integrate digital tools and robust express logistics into every facet of our agriculture. The prosperity of our farmers and the stability of our food supply depend on it.

     •Michael Adedotun Oke,Abuja

  • Urgent call for coherent agricultural policy

    Urgent call for coherent agricultural policy

    Sir: For too long, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been defined by disjointed policies and a severe lack of focus on protecting the farmer. The low returns, the uncertainty of production, and the failure to integrate farmers into the crucial stages of processing, marketing, and exportation have left the sector struggling to meet national food security needs. Our farmers—the bedrock of our economy—are not merely producers; they are entrepreneurs who require a unified system of support to unlock the sector’s vast potential.

    The clear move needed now is not to invent a new policy, but to decisively implement and streamline the existing ones, while adopting new strategic needs-based policies to fast-track development, increase cultivation, boost yields, and ensure farmer empowerment across the entire value chain.

    The core problem is the disconnect between Abuja’s ambitious agricultural roadmaps and the reality on the farm. Farmers are at the receiving end of a market system that leaves them vulnerable: low farm-gate prices at harvest, massive post-harvest losses due to poor infrastructure, and inability to access high-value export markets.

    Policies often focus heavily on production (e.g., input distribution) but fail to create reliable off-taking, processing, and storage systems. This means increased cultivation often leads to a glut and a price crash, financially punishing the farmer. Successive administrations often abandon previous initiatives, leading to a constant restart that wastes resources and erodes farmer trust in government programs. Lack of rural feeder roads, reliable power for processing, and poor storage facilities mean up to 40-50% of certain perishable produce is lost, turning potential profit into waste.

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    To move the sector from subsistence farming to a modern, export-driven industry, we must prioritize the following policy thrusts:

    Replace blanket subsidies with an accessible, verifiable e-voucher system delivered via farmer cooperatives to ensure timely and targeted distribution of quality seeds and fertilizers. This eliminates corruption/diversion of inputs and ensures farmers get the right inputs at the right planting window.

    Establish a public-private partnership (PPP) to deploy tractor and mechanization service hubs at the Local Government Area level, offering equipment on affordable lease terms. This breaks the barrier of high upfront cost for smallholder farmers, increasing cultivation area and efficiency.

    Re-engage and retrain a new generation of agricultural extension agents, leveraging mobile technology (apps, SMS alerts) for real-time, data-driven advice on climate-smart farming and best practices. This improves yields by disseminating current research and best planting/harvesting times to counter climate change.

    The farmer must evolve from a mere producer to a value-chain stakeholder.

    The disconnect in Nigeria’s agricultural sector is not a production problem; it is a policy execution and systemic protection problem. The lack of protection for farmers, especially in exportation and market access, is the primary reason for low returns and declining confidence.

    •Michael Adedotun Oke, Garki, Abuja.

  • How to unlock Nigeria’s vast agricultural economy, by UI Don

    How to unlock Nigeria’s vast agricultural economy, by UI Don

    Nigeria needs to energise its agricultural development by implementing sustainable reforms that enhance the efficiency of agricultural development programmes, availability of adequate infrastructure and the depth and reach of agricultural extension delivery system.

    Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Professor Lukman Akinbile outlined eight-point agenda to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s agricultural endowments to ensure food security and deepen economic development.

    Akinbile, a former National President of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria, who presented the 594th inaugural lecture of the University of Ibadan, said agricultural endowments of Nigeria and its human capital represent untapped goldmine that could help in resolving myriad of challenges facing the country. The inaugural lecture, which was delivered at the famous Trenchard Hall of the premier university, was titled: Nigerian Agriculture: Untapped Goldmine in Need of the Imminent Impetus.

    He decried the current state of the Nigerian agricultural system, noting that a nation that used to be a net exporter of agricultural produce and products has now become a net importer, which keeps draining the nation’s foreign exchange to the extent that the nation now has to rely on foreign debts and investment to fund developmental activities.

    “Issues that led to the low performance have to do with the administration of agricultural development programmes, the provision of required infrastructure and fortifying the extension delivery system. The extension delivery system has the potential of increasing farmers’ production and help achieve food security. The need to energise the impetus to agricultural development in Nigeria in form of a virile, efficient and effective agricultural extension service delivery is therefore imminent,” Akinbile said.

    He called for the establishment of Agricultural Development Fund by the federal government, which should allocate funds for the agricultural extension service in the country.

    He explained that agriculture being on the concurrent list, Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in states should write proposals on their extension targets for a year for which funds will be made available while the target for the year must be achieved before such state can benefit from the fund for the succeeding year.

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    He said that such a system, which is currently being used by government programmes like UBEC and TETFUND, would ensure that the agricultural funds are used for the purpose they are meant for.

    He also pointed out the need to regularize extension activities through the use of long-term planning that ensures that all extension activities delivered in the country, both internally or externally funded, fit into the overall plan, thus preventing duplication and avoid aberrations.

    “Activities of quacks in extension practice need to be curbed. A situation where everyone is involved in extension practice must be eliminated. This will guarantee that farm produce from Nigeria satisfy world standards and prevent rejection by off-takers from within the country and the international community.”

     There will be certification by a regulatory body, and there must be standards below which no practitioner must fall to avoid the withdrawal of the certificate,” Akinbile said.

    He stressed the need to ensure effective research-extension-farmer-input-market linkage system.

    According to him, the planning mode of extension practitioners must be activated to ensure efficient linkage, such that ensure that agricultural produce is prepared for the market, being demand-driven..

    He pointed out the need to strengthen delivery system through adequate infrastructure noting functional efforts must be made to ensure that the infrastructure required for efficiency is all in place.

    “There is also need to build capacity in value addition. Efforts must be made to achieve value addition of farm produce so that the nation becomes an exporter of products and not produce. This increases the value of agricultural activities. It should involve building capacity and the provision of infrastructure.

    “Motivation of extension personnel is another key factor. Incentives must be provided for extension officers to discharge their responsibilities. Activities that involve going out of the station must be funded and remunerated. Allowances that are associated with such activities must be provided and career progression must be clearly specified.

    “Legislation of the agricultural extension policy is important: The extension policy that is before the National Assembly should be taken to its logical conclusion until it receives the approval of the President. This will ensure that the practice of agricultural extension unlocks the goldmine that agriculture is by fulfilling the role of the imminent impetus for agricultural development and food security,” Akinbile said.

    He underlined that as population of Nigeria keeps increasing, estimated to reach 400 million by 2050, enhanced agricultural productivity through the adaptation of new technologies and innovations is necessary to ensure food security and nutrition.

    “The missing link involves addressing the problems with the technical needs of farmers. In order to improve yield, the nation’s extension delivery system will need to be addressed if Nigeria’s farmers’ yields will compete with what obtains in agriculturally developed nations of the world. There is thus the need for a virile extension service delivery system if Nigeria is to attain food self-sufficiency. The extension component needs to be strengthened to help improve the yield of farmers and ensure value addition,” Akinbile said.

    He described agricultural extension as a necessary impetus to explore the Nigerian agricultural goldmine citing the examples of countries that had leveraged efficient extension services to grow their economy.

    He said: “Agricultural extension has been used as an impetus to drive agricultural development in several countries that have attained food self-sufficiency in the world. This has been the case in countries where legislation has been used to entrench agricultural extension as the impetus. As an example, the 1914 Smith-Lever Act of the United States of America led to the institutionalisation of Land Grant Universities and Colleges from where extension services were delivered. The County Extension Officers are the field staff who interact directly with farmers and ensure that farmers are able to boost their productivity and income. The county extension officers are highly valued and they are considered among the high-impact workers. They are highly motivated because their performance index is very high. They are therefore the imminent impetus that drives agriculture to the level that the nation has attained food self-sufficiency and farmers’ enhanced productivity. This explains why American farmers are a vocal voice in national development”.

    He underscored the immense opportunity in agricultural development noting that with a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria’s internal market for food and agricultural products is huge, spanning staples like cassava, maize, yams, and rice.

    According to him, this burgeoning population also provides a large, affordable labour force that can drive mass production of cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm, and cashew in high demand globally.

    He added that Nigeria’s youthful demographic and expansive arable land lay the groundwork for innovative agricultural practices and agribusiness entrepreneurship.

    He said: “The country’s vast arable land means there are opportunities to create jobs through smallholder farming, commercial agriculture, processing, and storage facility management.

    “Therefore, to realise these potentials fully, the country must overcome the challenges related to mechanisation, infrastructure, financing, market access, climate resilience, and security. These require the deployment of a virile extension service. With strategic investments and reforms, agriculture can drive sustainable economic growth, food security, and employment in Nigeria”.

  • Integrainium Initiative: A coordinated approach to agricultural transformation

    Integrainium Initiative: A coordinated approach to agricultural transformation

    By Dr. Femi Ogunseinde

    Integranium is a flagship, large-scale integrated programme developed by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to reboot the agricultural sector.

    Focused on crop farming, livestock, and aquaculture, Integrainium will redefine preferred practices to engage various aspects of farming operations across the entire value chain, from inputs to production and to trade.

    This coordinated approach is expected to lead to a functional and up-to-date database on key farming information, improved yields, significantly reduced post-harvest losses, and well-established export programs.

    The Integrainium programme, in partnership with state governments, technical and operations service providers and farms, will initially be established in a select state within each geo-political region/zone.

    The individual programs will leverage the relative farming strengths of each state and region, eventually expanding to all states.

    The overarching goal is to deploy an updated, integrated farming practice that can exploit idle arable land to produce food for local consumption as well as exports. Its core structure will encompass various nodal stages of farming:

    Upstream: Inputs, land access, and production.

    Midstream: Harvesting, storage, and processing.

    Downstream: Sales and distribution.

    The initiative will also capitalise on other complementary programmes, such as the Special Agro Processing Zones (SAPZ) and large-scale agro-commodities hubs.

    Through this comprehensive approach, farming in Nigeria will evolve from largely subsistence farming with disjointed operations to large-scale mechanised farming.

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    To spark critical conversations around this vision, especially in the area of crop farming, MOFI has organised the Integrainium Investment Forum: Crop Farming Roundtable.

    This platform is designed to engage stakeholders on critical issues that must be addressed to enable this transformation.

    The Integrainium Investment Forum: Crop Farming Roundtable, powered by the MOFI Leadership Series, serves as a high-level, cross-functional engagement platform amongst key stakeholders who are focused on translating Nigeria’s agricultural potential into practical, scalable realities. This edition of the forum specifically focuses on Nigeria’s crop farming value chain.

    It is structured as a working session where government representatives, agribusinesses, farmers, technical services and capital providers, logistics specialists, and other key stakeholders will engage in focused conversations on challenges, models, and other investment and operational considerations.

    Why Crop Farming? Why Now?

    Nigeria’s agricultural sector, a significant contributor to the national economy, has consistently accounted for approximately 20-26 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent years (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2023; International Monetary Fund (IMF), 2023). A substantial portion of Nigerian households, about 70 per cent, are actively engaged in crop farming activities (Statista, 2024).

    Despite this widespread involvement and its economic importance, the sector faces considerable challenges that hinder its overall productivity. The sector is currently held back by several factors:

    Largely subsistence farming with a yield of 2.0 tons/ha (vs 3.5 global avg). Only about one per cent of 34 million hectares of arable land is irrigated. Mechanisation of 0.3 hp/ha vs FAO recommendation of 1.5 hp/ha. Fertilizer usage of 20 kg/ha vs the global average of 135 kg/ha. Annual post-harvest losses of about 4060 per cent of all produce due to lack of storage.

    These losses translate to about $10 billion lost annually. Cold Storage capacity of 2 Million MT is needed but only 150,000 MT is available <5% of perishables use cold chain storage. Only 10 per cent of the output is processed locally.

    Processing capacity utilisation is below 30 per cent in many agro-processing zones. Nigeria imports over $10 billion worth of food annually. Lack of power, finance, and logistics infrastructure hampers growth, while 80 per cent+ produce is sold informally.

    Price fluctuation is up to 60 per cent seasonally; 10 per cent of farmers are linked to structured markets.

    Only 30 per cent of rural roads are in good condition. Over 80 per cent of farmers rely on low-quality, uncertified seeds, reducing crop yields by up to 30 per cent.

    Integrainium aims to address these issues by building an integrated, coordinated value chain, improving infrastructure, and facilitating regional commercial agro hubs that connect producers with local buyers and exporters.

    The roundtable will evaluate these opportunities and explore how stakeholders can align around a shared execution model.

    The Roundtable will feature thematic cohorts that will investigate captured pressure points in the crop farming value chain, including:

    Land Preparation: Breaking barriers to scalable farming; exploring solutions to input access challenges; Adopting new farm practices for improved yield (Enabled Farming); Evolving farming from subsistence to mechanised (Large Scale), to precision (Precision Farming); Harvesting & storage: managing post-harvest losses; Voices from the farm: Real stories; Preparing for exports and local sales; Unlocking capital: Structuring investments across Integraniums value chain; Integranium – the new eco-system for crop farming: Blueprint, development and communication approach.

    Each cohort led by a sector practitioner will contribute toward identifying practical ideas, scalable models and actionable insights that can inform investment structuring, programme design and execution under the Integranium initiative.

    Through thematic cohort discussions and expert-led sessions, the key takeaways from the forum will be distilled into standards and expectations of stakeholders across the value chain. These will be captured as a blueprint.

    This blueprint will drive transparency and traceability of all activities and outcomes, guiding implementation across all Integrainium projects, especially for MOFI and its champions participating in the sector.

    Dr Ogunseinde, Executive Director, Investment at MOFI, writes from Abuja

  • Starving in the presence of wide agricultural land

    Starving in the presence of wide agricultural land

    I have been listening to the broadcast of Dr Tunde Bakare, the nationally renowned and relevant man of God who like prophets of old spoke words to power pointing out to government what can be done to bring our country back to prosperity not just waiting to collect commissions on oil but to build an agriculturally sufficient country, adding value to what it produces on a vast industrial complex. His program can be described as the application of Biblical Joseph’s economic plan to the development of ancient Egypt to our situation in Nigeria. Good old agriculture is the way to economic development of Nigeria. Agriculture does not mean food production alone but the growing of tree crops.

    When I was very young during the colonial days, we did not import food before we ate. As far as I can remember, agriculture and agricultural development belonged in the realm of local government particularly the towns and villages. The same thing was true of education and other things which have now been appropriated by either the state or federal (central) government.  In the early 1950s when I was in primary school, every school had what we called “school farms”. I don’t know what people in Lagos had but I have a feeling they must have had school gardens because of the scarcity of arable land in the Lagos colony. But in my place in Ilawe Ekiti where I was born, we all had school farms. It did not matter how young or old one was, there was always a time devoted for farming. When it was time for harvest, it was a big celebration marked by drumming, dancing and eating. In my place, we only planted yams, corn, groundnuts, vegetables, peppers, onions, tomatoes and other edible vegetables. At harvest, there was public sale of our products and whatever was left was shared among teachers, students and the clergy since most of our schools were sectarian schools established by the various churches that were around in those days. When I entered Christ School, Ado Ekiti in 1956, we continued with the same tradition and added more things that we produced. Agriculture was then properly provided for in the school curriculum. Wednesday morning in alternate week was devoted to agriculture. Piggery and poultry were then introduced in addition to growing of root crops and vegetables. Most of the operations were done by students who belonged to agriculture society by choice. The whole thing was supervised by an “Agriculture Master” who had very light academic teaching.

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    At harvest time, the entire school feasted on the produce from the school farm during the day of harvest celebration and the agriculture society became popular because of the free pork shared with other students. The intention in students’ participation was to generate interest leading to many of them going to agricultural schools set up by all the regional governments of the country to train extension workers in agriculture to show our peasants the way forward in agricultural development in the country. Later, the Awolowo government of the 1950s established farm settlements to engage the overflow from free primary schools who could not find places in the very few secondary schools and “Modern” schools specifically established to absorb them. The Awolowo schools were copied by Michael Okpara and Ahmadu Bello, respectively premiers of Eastern and Northern Nigeria. The upshot of this was that agriculture, both peasant and modern, were made available in Nigeria. Unfortunately, we did not progress towards industrial agriculture of large commercial agriculture involving the use of modern tools on large estates.

    Throughout the years of Nigeria’s development, our largely peasant agriculture has never failed us. Perhaps that is where we went wrong. We should have developed vast agricultural estates either as state venture or private enterprises to produce food for home consumption and export particularly in the years of huge oil earnings in the 1970s. Now the urban population is swarming with young people who have refused to go to the farms but have been attracted by the bright lights of the cities and are only interested in white collar jobs or at worst in riding motorcycles to ferry people around in unproductive and unprofitable ventures sometimes extending to criminal tendencies. To augment their incomes, the urban proletariat and poor peasantry have taken to crimes of kidnapping and countrywide brigandage to fend for themselves and to satisfy their tastes and unrealistic desires based on their exposures to global television and cheap films. All this has led to shortages all round and we must do something about it.

    The greatest tragedy that a country can face is starvation. It is natural for people and even animals to do everything to feed themselves. Self-survival is the first law of nature. No matter how many soldiers or police we may have, man must first answer the law of nature. We have a reached the critical point where we have to find food for everyone. We once had “Operation Feed the Nation” during General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration and program of “Green Revolution” during the presidency of Shehu Shagari. We had great intentions then but they did not translate to reality. I remember everyone was called upon to grow something behind or in front of their homes to reduce the cost of food imports.

    The program of the “Green Revolution” put enormous resources and emphasis on large dams and large estates of rice, corn, and wheat. We have to revamp the programs and go back to them and this time, make them work. The growing population of Nigeria which we have refused to curb will not permit failure this time. We must do something about our galloping population and our open borders which allow people from Niger, Chad, Benin, Togo and other West Africans to flood our borders. If we don’t tackle our population problem, we will not solve our food problems.

    The solution to our population problem is both internal and external. We must all ask ourselves what we as individuals have contributed towards them. Ask how many children and grandchildren you as individuals have contributed to the rising population creating a future population bomb.  Gone are those days when having many children are signs of affluence and power. Today they are signs of poverty and problems.

    Now that we are beginning to seriously look at the structural configuration of the country, we should begin to realise that structures go beyond politics and the economy, pivotal as they appear. Structure should include production particularly who and where things are produced. We should look back to the future, so to say, in the ways we run our country. The closer we are to the grassroots in agriculture, the better and more profitable and productive we are likely to be. The same thought should inform security and policing. The more secure we are at the village level, the more we are likely to be at the national level. The more secure we are, the more food secure we would be as a nation. It is also generally hazarded that the more food secure a country is, the more politically stable and economically viable a country would be. If a country is stable and secure at home, the more it would be able to wield influence and power abroad. To be where we want to be internationally, we must first be able to feed and secure ourselves. A hungry man is an angry man and an angry man cannot think rationally. A mad man is entertaining but no one wants to be a parent to a mad child. This is the situation facing us where the subject of our conversation these days is the cost of tomatoes, peppers, onions, bread and rice. A serious country’s concern should go beyond food which has in most countries been assumed to be normally available whether locally produced or imported. Nigerians must not be allowed to starve.

    Corrigendum:

    My last article on Nigeria as a “A Republic of a thousand kingdoms “ omitted the  fact of the significance of the Ooni of Ife as the fountain of both the Oba of Benin and the Alaafin of Oyo before the two kingdoms developed into empires .I have written in the past about the interconnectedness of Ife , Benin and Oyo. I am gratified that my article in The Nation is read globally .The omission is regretted.

  • Cocoa, cashews boost agricultural exports

    Cocoa, cashews boost agricultural exports

    Nigeria’s agricultural export sector is witnessing remarkable growth,  driven by robust cocoa and cashew nut exports, according to data  by the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS).  The  performance, according to the International Trade Centre (INTRACEN)’s Trade Map  underscores the country’s rising competitiveness in the global agricultural arena. Cocoa,the Trade Map maintained, continues to be a fundamental component of Nigeria’s agricultural exports, achieving a total value of $623.918 million in 2023.  The sector,it  explained, was characterised by raw cocoa beans, which maintained the same impressive valuation and exhibited a 29 percent annual growth from 2019 to 2023, positioning Nigeria as the sixth-largest exporter of raw cocoa beans worldwide. Additionally,  it noted that exports of cocoa butter, fat, and oil amounted to $64.995 million, while chocolate and other cocoa-containing food preparations reached $38.050 million, reflecting a remarkable 177 percent annual growth during the same period. With global cocoa prices soaring to a record $12,000 per tonne in December, the Federal Government and farmers have set an ambitious goal of producing 500,000 tonnes of cocoa in the 2024-2025 season.

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    The National President, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) Comrade Adeola Adegoke  said  the initiative aims to elevate Nigeria to the fourth position globally, competing with leading producers Ivory Coast and Ghana, whose crops have been adversely affected by climate change and disease.  In an interview with The Nation, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, Chief Executive of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), emphasised the growing global demand for chocolate and cocoa-based products, particularly in Europe and North America. He noted that Nigeria has successfully increased its share of the processed cocoa market, benefiting from the higher profit margins these products provide. He stated, “There have been concerted efforts to enhance cashew and ginger production nationwide. In 2002, a study commissioned by the European Union (EU) was conducted to explore agricultural opportunities.  The results have motivated an increasing number of farmers to participate in the trade of cashew and ginger, both of which are considered cash crops. There is a noticeable trend towards scaling up production due to their industrial applications. Cashew, ginger, and cocoa have emerged as key drivers of our export trade. ” He elaborated that there is an increasing interest among local producers to tap into the global market, driven by the rising demand for ethically sourced, premium-quality cocoa products.The  cashew nut industry is witnessing considerable growth, with exports of fresh or dried cashew nuts in the shell valued at $185.403 million, while shelled cashew nuts accounted for $142.064 million.The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) anticipates sustained growth over the next five years, crediting this trend to favorable climatic conditions. The National President, NCAN, Dr. Ojo Ajanaku, stated that the cashew sector could potentially add $3.7 billion to Nigeria’s economy with sufficient government backing. He envisioned production levels surpassing two million metric tonnes annually. However, he cautioned that the Federal Government risks losing significant revenue if it fails to tackle the issue of undocumented cashew exports. He emphasised, “Immediate action is required from the Federal Government to combat the undocumented shipment of goods from Nigeria. There are individuals involved who do not wish to repatriate their export earnings. If the government does not intervene, we will continue to incur substantial financial losses. In fact, the documented exports represent less than a quarter of what is actually leaving the country. The undocumented exports prevent the proceeds from returning to Nigeria’s accounts, which is a major issue. Consequently, it is reported that cashew contributes less than $500 million to the gross domestic product (GDP), while the actual value of exports is in the billions of dollars.”While the cocoa and cashew industries are thriving,  the  ginger export sector, is currently experiencing a significant decline. In 2023, processed ginger exports reached an impressive $31.172 million, accounting for a 19.9 per cent  share of the global market and demonstrating an extraordinary 131 percent  increase in value from 2019 to 2023. However, recent trends suggest a troubling reversal.. A severe outbreak of ginger blight, including rhizome rot and bacterial wilt, has severely impacted yields throughout  the country , with farmers reporting losses of up to 90 per cent. This has resulted in a staggering 74 per cent  decrease in total ginger exports. Additionally, the cost of ginger production has skyrocketed. The rising prices of ginger seeds have also made them unaffordable for many farmers, complicating future planting efforts. This crisis places Nigeria at a considerable risk of losing its hard-earned market share to competitors such as India and China, who are actively seeking to penetrate Nigeria’s traditional export markets. In light of this, ginger farmers have sought intervention from the Federal Government. Through their National Youth Representative, Jerry Tobi, who represents over 100,000 farmers under the Youth in Agribusiness initiative, they have urged the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to take immediate action to avert a complete collapse of the sector. They emphasize the rampant fungal infections, the lack of access to disease-resistant seed varieties, and the soaring production costs as critical threats.

  • Oyo, Ogun, Kwara Farmers to Benefit from Sorghum Value Chain Initiative

    Oyo, Ogun, Kwara Farmers to Benefit from Sorghum Value Chain Initiative

    Farmers in Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara states are set to benefit from an innovative Sorghum Value Chain Transformation Initiative aimed at enhancing sorghum production and empowering smallholder farmers.

    The project, driven by Arzikin Noma, seeks to address food inflation, improve livelihoods, and boost the agricultural value chain in the region.

    Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Managing Director, Arzikin Noma, Adeoluwa Adesola, emphasized the critical role of private sector support in tackling food security challenges.

    According to him, the initiative would empower over 10,000 farmers across the three states with tools, resources, and training to improve sorghum cultivation.

    “The cultivation of sorghum offers a cost-effective alternative to wheat and barley, which are widely used in the food, beverage, and livestock feed industries,” he said.

    “With rising prices of these staples, sorghum provides a sustainable option that can mitigate food inflation while reducing dependency on imports.”

    The project will equip farmers with improved sorghum seeds, essential farming inputs, and financial support, facilitated through a partnership with the IDH (Sustainable Trade Initiative).

    Adesola noted that while farmers in the southwest possess land and technical knowledge, limited access to financing has hindered their productivity—a gap this project aims to bridge.

    Chief Operating Officer, Arzikin Noma, Ugochukwu Oguike, described the Nigerian grain industry as a lucrative sector worth nearly ₦16 trillion.

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    He emphasized the profitability of sorghum cultivation, noting that it requires less labor and offers significant economic benefits, including increased tax revenue and reduced pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

    “By supporting local farmers, we’re not only creating opportunities for them to thrive but also reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported grains,” he said.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Kwara State’s, Oluwatoyosi Thomas commended the effort and also urged farmers to uphold their commitments under the program to ensure its sustainability.

    “When agreements are made, it’s crucial that farmers honor their obligations,” she said. “Integrity is key to scaling beyond the pilot phase and allowing more farmers to benefit.”

    Arzikin Noma is actively engaging farmer clusters and encouraging interested farmers in Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara to register for the program. The initiative is expected to significantly improve sorghum production, create new economic opportunities, and contribute to Nigeria’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.

  • Plowing through changing landscapes

    Plowing through changing landscapes

    Anticipated changes in the  agricultural landscape is going to lead  to alternative  transformation in  the way farming is done, addressing challenges such as water scarcity, soil degradation, and climate change. The emphasis on sustainability, diversification, and technology will not only enhance productivity but also contribute to environmental preservation and better livelihoods for farmers. The agribusiness industry is going to explore interventions to capitalise on obstacles in its way. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    This year, Nigerians are expected to experience the tangible effects of the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, which was formed from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems (FMARD). The change signifies a strategic shift in addressing the unique requirements of the livestock sector in Nigeria. The reorganisation aims to enhance attention on the specific challenges encountered by the livestock sub-sector, encompassing areas such as animal husbandry, veterinary services, breeding practices, and the comprehensive management of livestock resources.

    Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari’s dream to make Nigeria a commercially viable agricultural sector  will be tested this year. His objectives resonate with the African Union’s vision of a prosperous Africa, which is rooted in inclusive growth and sustainable development as articulated in Agenda 2063. The framework embodies the resolve of African countries to eradicate poverty within a single generation and to cultivate shared prosperity through comprehensive social and economic transformation.

     At the 46th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, recently convened in Calabar, Cross River State, Kyari articulated various initiatives and priorities focused on boosting food production in the country. Key components of these initiatives include the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers, the reorganisation of agricultural institutions, and the enhancement of interactions among farmers, herders, and community members.

    Kyari articulated that the foremost actions being prioritised include the provision of agro-inputs to farmers, the reorganisation of agricultural institutions, and fostering deeper engagement among farmers, herders, and their communities. He also mentioned that other initiatives involve collaboration on irrigation water resource projects, improving soil fertility, and developing information systems. Additionally, there are plans to set up laboratories in research institutes and to reposition pertinent universities, faculties, and colleges. The influence of climate change on food security and production systems is clear. Farmers acknowledge this challenge and are progressively implementing resilient production strategies to adapt and preserve their farming methods.

    The North is particularly vulnerable to climate change, but  the South is also affected, portending profound changes in the agricultural landscape. The dominance of small-scale farms, intricate land ownership disputes, and rising land costs will present considerable obstacles to the government’s agricultural reform initiative.

    The upcoming 2025 agricultural campaign is likely to confront major obstacles due to delayed precipitation, potentially resulting in a prolonged drought at the season’s commencement. In light of this, the ministry will be required to implement a variety of initiatives to support the agricultural sector. The main aims will be to ensure the campaign proceeds without disruption and to encourage growth in various areas of agriculture.

    This year, the agriculture sector will encounter a range of trends. These trends encompass evolving consumer preferences, the ongoing digital transformation and implementation of smart farming techniques, the occurrence of severe climatic events, the growth of urban and vertical farming, and issues pertaining to soil health.

    The emergence of urban farming is poised to become a significant trend in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital, as farmers increasingly invest in food production that is closer to consumers. The development of local food production technologies and the enhancement of urban farming infrastructure will enable these regions to satisfy the rising food demand while promoting sustainability. Furthermore, digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain are anticipated to gain greater traction in the sector, with companies and farmers leveraging these tools to make informed decisions, optimise operations, and improve supply chain traceability. As anticipated, the agricultural sector in Lagos is progressively embracing digital agriculture, supported by a government commitment to assist startups that have the potential to drive innovation, create jobs, and foster economic growth within the AgTech industry.

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    The government is eager for startups to delve into emerging sectors within agriculture, such as AgTech, biotechnology, and genomics, with the aim of advancing technological innovation and fostering economic development throughout the state. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, has indicated that the state has created a platform to support new ideas, entrepreneurs, and businesses. She  said the government  will finance programmes designed to address food insecurity, enhance economic prospects for individuals and organisations, and promote the cultivation of existing crops while introducing new varieties to the market.

    She stated that the government is eager to engage with local AgTech leaders, researchers, startups, and industry players to identify and prioritise opportunities. She articulated the government’s aspiration to cultivate a dynamic AgTech entrepreneurial ecosystem that substantially improves food security and fosters equitable agricultural opportunities. The recent surge in capital investment has led to an abundance of technological advancements in the agricultural sector, with many AgTech startups emerging to provide solutions that aim to boost efficiency.

    With its advantageous location, the state offers a variety of options for optimising inbound and outbound logistics. To further enhance its trade capabilities, Ms. Abisola Olusanya revealed that considerable efforts will be directed towards establishing logistics hubs to strengthen supply chain infrastructure. The initiative is motivated by the competitive benefits that Lagos provides to the agriculture sector, such as water access, domestic and international gateways, and a dedicated, skilled workforce.

    She noted: “We are going to concentrate on completing and commissioning the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Hub in Epe, this year. We are going to push the logistics hub bill through the executive and then the assembly to help accelerate the process of driving a multi logistics system across the state.”

    A component of her economic development strategy involves analysing existing economic data to identify regions with the highest potential for growth. So far, the dairy, poultry, and aquaculture sectors present profitable opportunities for farmers to enhance their earnings.

    To facilitate the growth of the sectors she said the  government  is   promoting the adoption of modern techniques and best practices among farmers.

    She emphasised that the government will prioritise value addition and market connections by enhancing processing infrastructure, establishing digitally enabled supply chains, adhering to international quality standards, and improving transportation infrastructure.

    She stated that the government plans to create clusters and micro units aimed at enhancing processing output capacity while minimising unnecessary expenses. She elaborated that these clusters would allow several food processing units to utilise shared infrastructure and services, thereby lowering input costs and promoting demand-driven processing. She is not alone in the campaign to boost national food production  figures.

    Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has his sights set on making the state a top contender for job creation and innovation. And he’s going to do it by revamping the state’s economic development strategy.

    Presently, the business landscape in Akwa Ibom is encouraging both significant capital investment projects and the rise of startup firms throughout the economy. Analysts express optimism that the current administration can cultivate a supportive and stable environment for businesses, enabling them to grow, hire, and prosper. Akwa Ibom State is a prominent producer of agricultural goods, including palm oil, cassava, yam, cocoyam, plantain, maize, rice, and rubber. Furthermore, the state features a diverse array of tropical livestock. The agricultural sector is progressively moving away from traditional farming towards horticulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries, and food processing.

    As income levels rise, urbanisation progresses, and consumption patterns evolve, there is a growing demand for high-nutrition and processed foods among both rural and urban households. In response, farmers in the state are advancing within the agricultural value chain. They are implementing modern farming practices, including precision agriculture, the use of drones, polyhouses, crop diversification, and enhancements in dairy breed quality, to boost productivity and achieve better price realisation.

    Governor Umo Eno has pledged to support new companies coming in to produce more food and create jobs across the state as a part of its economic development success.

    In a groundbreaking move for the future of food production, Akwa Ibom State government has announced plans to create roads and transportation  infrastructure  that  enable  increased speedily movement of  food production and  distribution.

    This year, exports of agricultural products will continue   with producers  well-positioned in international markets. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr Victor Iyama  said the organisation is  committed to helping small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) navigate international markets.

    Since  sheep, cattle, chickens and pigs are the bread and butter of  the nation’s  livestock production,  and contribute to the economy, experts such  as Prof Abiodun Adeloye believe the sector  requires good on-farm biosecurity and emergency animal disease preparedness too.

    He believes healthy growth in the livestock sector would have a direct impact in redistribution of poverty and improvement in livelihoods of rural populations. It provides employment to the majority of the labour force too, thus it is an important means of livelihood security in the country. The beef industry is going to play a crucial role in addressing the nation’s food security this year.

    However, analysts believe this would be possible if the government establishes and manages an accurate and up-to-date national dataset demonstrated through satellite mapping agricultural land use, nature and biodiversity.

    The livestock sector in the North has long been a vital component of the region, particularly for subsistence smallholder farmers who rely on  the  industry  for both daily nutritional needs and cash income. However, as the population grows, urbanisation accelerates, per capita incomes rise, and export opportunities expand, the dynamics of the livestock market are shifting toward a more commercial outlook. This growing demand for livestock and its products, although offering substantial potential for growth, faces numerous challenges that are hindering the sector’s ability to fully capitalise on these opportunities. The sector is characterised by low productivity due to several factors, including the underutilisation of existing genetic resources, unproductive animals, and inefficient breeding strategies. There is limited access to improved breeding services, which constrains the development of high-yielding livestock strains.Challenges such as climate change, disease outbreaks, market access, and limited resources can make livestock farming precarious.

    Fodder, concentrate feed, silage, and mineral mixtures are essential for optimal animal health and productivity. However, these resources are often unavailable or unaffordable for subsistence farmers.

     Ms Abisola Olusanya told The Nation, the state government is working with Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO), African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project and a team from Botswana to address issues of lack of sufficient feed and fodder which are critical for the development of livestock sector.

    She said SMEs will be supported to explore fodder production in  commercially viable levels in the face of feed shortage.This is expected to reduce the cost of commercial feed and improve cattle production and profitability to enable farmers to realise the full value of their livestock.

    She believes intensified fodder production drive  will  have positive effects on the livestock sector, leading to improved animal health, increased milk and meat production and enhanced farmer incomes.  On the national level, AU-IBAR ‘s RAFFS  will work with the Federal Ministry of Livestock development to ensure farmers have at least a plot of fodder and a source of clean water to improve their livestock’s nutrition. Lagos State government is also promoting the establishment of dedicated fodder plots to ensure  the survival and productivity of livestock during the challenging times. On the whole, analysts believe Nigeria  has many comparative advantages, which must be exploited and capitalised on, especially in the context of the  livestock sector.

     According to them, Nigeria has a large livestock base and a huge milk production base,  but most of the farmers are smallholders, who can actually provide better animal care and productivity, if organised along the value chain.

    In response to the current situation, stakeholders maintain that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development should direct its efforts towards enhancing productivity and stimulating economic growth within the sector. This involves supporting farmers in their exploration of growth opportunities, particularly in light of the rising domestic demand for meat and dairy products.

    The Project Coordinator ,AU-IBAR’s African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD), Ahmed Eibeltagy, asserted that the livestock sector can be revitalised through private-sector-led growth, which is adequately positioned to fulfill local demands while complying with international quality standards. He stressed  the necessity for an environment devoid of market distortions and the establishment of a framework that encourages private enterprises to invest more in the sector, thereby facilitating economic development.

  • Fed Govt allocates N47b to support agricultural, medical institutions

    Fed Govt allocates N47b to support agricultural, medical institutions

    The Federal Government has allocated N47 billion to support universities of agriculture and medical schools across the country.

    The allocation aims to boost agricultural innovation and healthcare training in the country.

    Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed this during a meeting with pro-chancellors of federal universities in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The breakdown of the allocation is N30 billion for agricultural universities and N17 billion for 18 medical schools.

    Alausa explained that the N30 billion allocated to agricultural universities would be used to establish mechanised farms, with each university receiving N1 billion.

    He emphasised that these funds would contribute significantly to improving food security nationwide.

    “Every university with a faculty of agriculture will be required to set up mechanised farming and livestock production.

    “We are putting aside N30 billion for this initiative. This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s priority on food security.

    “We want you to create opportunities for the future using your position and power,” he said.

    The minister also disclosed that 18 medical schools would receive N17 billion to train healthcare professionals, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses.

    “This funding aims to strengthen Nigeria’s medical workforce, focusing on high-impact projects for medical education.

    “We’ve identified N17 billion for special high-impact projects with TETFund. This will directly support the training of doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses across 18 universities,” Alausa added.

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    He further expressed concern about some specialised universities offering programmes outside their core mandates.

    He pointed out that some Universities of Agriculture were offering courses in accounting, while Universities of Technology were running insurance programmes, a trend he considered a deviation from their intended focus.

    The minister highlighted the growing demand for skilled workers in emerging technologies, citing over 1 million job opportunities, including 300,000 jobs in cloud computing, 300,000 in machine learning and AI, and 250,000 in natural language processing.

    Alausa urged university governing councils and management to collaborate effectively with respect and dignity.

    “While councils are not involved in the daily operations of the universities, they are responsible for robust supervision and oversight.

    “The ministry will support you to create an enabling environment for universities to function effectively,” he said.

     He also advised that budgets and procurement processes should be approved and supervised by university councils in line with established rules.

    Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities and Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, noted that the event provided an opportunity for Pro-Chancellors to reflect on their roles.

    He also emphasised that the gathering would allow them to share innovative ideas and forge strategies to enhance the governance and management of universities.