The climatic conditions are adjusting so fastly to meet the needs of nature and players within the natural environment are also making frantic efforts to take advantage and maximise the gains by preparing themselves for new farming season.
The rains have started falling in this second week of March and from every indication, 2024 farming season will usher in early agricultural activities especially those that rely on rain water.
I have made several pleas to governments at all levels to help Nigerian farmers heave some sight of relief by overcoming the challenges of the immediate past. Even though Nigerian farmers are already used to struggling on their own to make ends meet with little or no government attention, it’s only proper that serious attention be given the sector in view of the prevailing economic situation. It beats the imagination of many that the very rich and potentially vibrant and lucrative agricultural sector has painfully remained unattended to by government. Only few states of the federation take agriculture serious and only few of the states can boast of doing little for their farmers. With high cost of items in the country, governments are expected to subsidize basic agricultural items like e.g. seedlings, fertilizers, other farm implements like tractors, etc to assist them in reducing manual labour.
Farmers need soft loans to expand investments from small scale to mechanized systems that can provide food for families and at the same time, generate some reasonable income. Year in year out, governments have reeled out beautiful agricultural plans for the people but often not implemented. Diversifying the economy is not an option.It is not that those in government don’t know the value of agriculture to the society, but it appears it’s a lack of political will to enforce corresponding action. Many of those in strategic positions in government have their personal farms and yet, cannot encourage people to do same for the same benefits that attracted them. The story of the Nigerian farmer is that of pity, neglect, pain, agony, suffering, exploitation ,etc. The new farming season is midway now but fertilizers are yet to to be made available. Where the items are available, the high cost of the price is beyond purchase by these same farmers. Where they need tractors to till large expanse of land and high breed seedlings for higher yield, none is available.
The oil sector is not an area that everyone can venture into neither are other areas such as mining, production, commerce, aviation ,transportation ,etc. agriculture is the only sector with numerous natural endowments such as land is not as capital intensive as other such areas. Therefore, the lack of interest in the agriculture sector by government, is not only a discouragement to the growth of a virile economy, but a panacea to poverty. There is nobody that doesn’t eat food. Therefore food is a daily basic consumable that is needed for daily survival of both people and animals. This is a critical sector that has helped many people because of its vast potentials and endless opportunities.
This is a sector that has provided huge consolation for many people especially now that most governments at all levels across the developing world have not done well. It is a sector of self motivation ,discipline, sustainability and advancement. It is a sector that only those who know its value and are committed to pursuing it carry on even with no or less governmental intervention. Those who are serious farmers know what am talking about. My definition of serious farmers is not in the bigness of the farm size, but how committed a farmer is to ensuring food security of his immediate family ,clan or community.
Most committed farmers are already aware of the need for early planning to avoid any eventuality or unanticipated occurrence or consequences such as scarcity and late arrival of inputs like fertilizer, herbicides ,seedlings and also being conscious of increased prices ,etc which can make business very frustrating. While many farmers would naturally rely on government for the provision, supply or subsidy of these vital and basic inputs, others would prefer to work it out for themselves considering the several failures or refusal of governments to do it. This is because most people in government don’t give priority to agriculture even when they boast of having their own farms and being farmers themselves. It is worrisome that people who have farms before getting into government lack the zeal, passion and commitment to continue with it and even make it a priority in office. Am always tempted to ask whether their ownership of farmlands is for decoration or the pride of ownership of landed property which is being kept for sale anytime the need for cash arises. The fact remains that agriculture is the mainstay of every human economy especially in struggling nations , but almost all the three tiers of government have not taken to that seriously here in Nigeria , neither have they demonstrated any exemplary and serious commitment to it.
But many individuals know the value and eternal relevance of the sector, hence their personal commitments and investments. The food security it provides, employment it generates and corporate trickledown effects it provides for industries ,companies ,factories, etc. Those in government actually don’t know that the cost of governance can seriously be cheaper if government goes into agriculture because it is in itself, one of the huge consumers of food items through the bogus public breakfasts, lunch, dinners and many other ceremonies they organize where food is supplied by contractors in large quantities. It is therefore my plea to governments at all levels to help farmers do agriculture for good benefits even if they themselves don’t take it as one of their first line priorities. This is because the burden of governance will be less on government when people are assisted by government to help themselves. They can do that by directing their respective ministries of agriculture and relevant agencies to start official preparations right away before the commencement of rains.
There are many people that do dry season farming through irrigation and they benefit a lot. For this category, farming is already ongoing and the many food crops and beautiful vegetables we see and buy on the roads are the products of their dry season farming. But because of the more expensive and capital nature of the dry season farming, many who could not afford to do irrigation have to wait for the rains before planting their crops. Majority of farmers fall under this category due to the fact that they cannot put in place basic structures of irrigation and security ,etc for themselves.
Dry season farming entails closer monitoring and security due to the fact that most animals roam on their own with little or no supervision across the farmlands because harvests have been done on most farms. Government can also help those interested in dry season farming or those whose locations have advantages of producing all season crops for the purpose of providing food security and enhancing their socio-economic status. Agriculture is not an on- the shelve activity like going to the shop to pick any ready made item. It is an outcome of a long term strategic planning that involves a lot of factors.The various ministries of agriculture at all levels should also move quickly to draw the attention of their principals to start early preparations to assist our suffering farmers.
These patriotic farmers sometimes go through hell to get what they need or want and sometimes incur a lot of losses as a result of government policies or untimely and wrong political decisions or inactions.As a practical farmer who is passionate about agriculture, I feel it is timely to raise this concern and alarm to draw attention of those in political authority to help our farmers and to also alert the farmers themselves of the need for early planning. We are in the second week of march now and fertilisers are expected to have been ready or almost ready for the farmers. The case of Plateau should be an example worthy of emulation by other states. The new government of Governor Caleb Mutfwang just distributed fertilisers worth #3.6b and preparing another one to make it go round. This, alongside other actions of the government, especially clearing of 900 hectres of land in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom and Barkin Ladi ahead of the farming season have encouraged alot of people into agriculture.This is the best time to get fertilisers ready so that farmers don’t get stranded at the time of need.
It is only those few who were able to buy fertilizers last year and kept that are lucky. It is my believe that the new President Bola Tinubu will match words with action to ensure the diversification of the economy by giving agriculture the needed attention. May God help our President, Governors and LGA Chairmen to do something this year for our farmers. Wishing all of us a blessed 2024 agricultural season with high productivity and bountiful harvest so as to overcome the present hunger in the land.
