Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
1.0
INTRODUCTION
One of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals is to reduce hunger and
poverty by half, by the year 2015, and the national food security programme of the
present administration is aimed at achieving this objective. Agriculture has been
identified as a strategic sector that would address the multiple challenges of
achieving a broad based objective of economic growth, creating wealth and
employment, reducing poverty, and attaining national food security as well as
putting Nigeria among the 20 world leading economies by the year 2020. To this
end, the federal government plans to promote large scale commercial farming of
between 500 and 3000 hectares farm sizes while targeting a total of between 6 and
10 million hectares over a four year period.
This workshop, it is hoped, will provide important guidelines and leeway for
commercial arable farming in Nigeria.
2.0
2.1
Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is self sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food
to feed their family. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals
needed by the family to eat during the year. Planting decisions are made with an
eye towards what the family will need during the coming year, rather than on
market prices. Waters (2006) highlighted that, "Subsistence peasants are people who
grow what they eat, build their own houses, and live without regularly making
purchases in the marketplace." It was the dominant mode of production in the world
until recently when market-based capitalism became widespread.
In the absence of technology, the area of land that a farmer can cultivate each
season is limited by such factors as available tools and the quality of the soil. Tools
used by subsistence farmers are often primitive. Most farmers do not have access to
large domesticated work animals, and therefore clear, toil, and harvest their goods
using hoes and cutlasses.
Land clearing in which farmers clear plots of farmland by cutting down all brush,
allowing the debris to dry, and later burning the fallen refuse are done using
cutlasses and axes in some cases, while ridging, planting and harvesting of crops are
done with hoes and cutlasses.
The use of simple farm tools for agricultural production does not only bring-about
serious human drudgery with little achievements but discourage timeliness and
perfection.
In countries which are sparsely populated, subsistence farming could be sustainable
for a long time. However, in more densely populated countries like Nigeria with over
one hundred and forty million people, subsistence farming may not only give room
for the importation of more food items to meet the food requirements of the growing
population and urbanization, but deplete the soil of nutrients, and damage the
environment. This is because the use of new technology on cultural practice is not
encouraged in subsistence farming.
Subsistence farming in Nigeria typically uses few fertilizers and no machines. Instead
the farmers may use draft animals, especially in northern Nigeria, which can be fed
and raised on the farm. Subsistence farmers often rely on crop rotation, animal
manure, and compost to restore the nutrients rather than purchasing expensive
synthetic fertilizers. This agriculture can limit the amount of growth in a season.
One form of subsistence farming is shifting cultivation, a practice common with rain
fed agricultural systems. Farmers typically abandon a given plot when soil fertility
wanes and move on to more fertile land, often utilizing slash and burn techniques,
exposing the former plot to environmental hazards like desertification, while the
techniques used on the new plot destroys the active micro-organisms in the soil. A
considerable fallow period ensues on the abandoned land. It takes up the least
amount of land among the four types of cultivation, but it only provides enough
food for the local population.
2.2
Nigeria has a total land mass of about 923 768 km2 and a survey by JICA in the 1980s
shows that 39% of the Nigerian land mass is potentially suitable for agriculture, that is,
360.26952 km2. Out of this, between 4.0 and 4.5 million ha (approximately 4.5 to
5.0%of the land) are adjudged suitable for irrigated agriculture but only 1.1 million ha
can be supported fully by the water available, the remaining 3.4 million ha being
fadama. (NINCID, 1999).
In 1987, FAO prepared a working document on the "Need and Justification of
Irrigation Development" which undertook a scientific assessment of the size of
populations that the agricultural land resources of African countries can support. The
report assumed a projected population for Nigeria in year 2025 of 238 million, 47.90
million hectares of potential rainfed land and 2.00 million and 3.73 million hectares
potential shorter and longer transport irrigable land. The shorter transport irrigable
lands were defined as land close to the source of the irrigation water i.e. transport
distances were limited to those within one agro-ecological zone. On the other hand,
longer transport referred to land further away from source: irrigation water may be
transported from one agro-ecological zone to another. The potentials were
calculated for three alternate levels of inputs namely, low level of inputs,
intermediate level of input and high level of input.
The water resources development for agricultural purposes was in the hands of the
private sector for the production of sugar cane with only a minor role by states in the
northern region of Nigeria. Irrigation practice was rudimentary, using residual flood
waters and moisture in the low lands called fadama (flash flood plains), and
supplemented with shaduf (a traditional device that lifts water onto the land). The
main crops produced using these traditional methods of irrigation were vegetables
and rice.
Areas under irrigation include areas equipped with full or partial water control, spate
irrigation, equipped wetlands and inland valley bottoms (including fadamas),
irrespective of their size or management type. From a survey undertaken by FMWR in
1995, it appears that irrigated areas in Nigeria amounts to some 974,900 hectares.
Though, the exact amount of land under irrigation is difficult to estimate, because
there is no clear commonly agreed definition of irrigation that is adopted by all.
However, based on past trends and on the present agricultural policy of Nigeria, a
tentative scenario depicts irrigation between years 2000 and 2025. The scenario
does not foresee a significant increase of irrigated area between now and year
2025. According to projection, land under irrigation has increased at less than 1% per
annum in the last decade. It is not foreseen that the situation would change
significantly because of many reasons. The harvested irrigated areas would increase
from the estimated current figure of (974,500*1.2) = 1 169 400 hectares in 2009 to
about (1,567,422 * 1.5) = 2,351,133 hectares in 2025 (NINCID, 1999).
The initial case for development of irrigation in Nigeria was based in part, with the
need to sustain a growth in the food supply that would broadly lead to national
food security. It is on record that between 1976 and 1990, Nigerian government has
invested over US $ 2000 million of public funds on the development of large to
medium scale public irrigation projects. Irrigated agriculture has since then
witnessed a spectacular growth, rising from slightly more than 25,000 ha of irrigated
farmland in 1975 to the current 974,900 ha. Amongst these, is the establishment of
three pilot public irrigation schemes, all in the sub-arid and dry sub-humid agroecological zones, namely: Bakolori Scheme, the Kano River Irrigation Scheme and
the Chad Basin Scheme in the early 1970s, which was as a result of FAO and US
Bureau of Reclamation studies. The success of these pilot schemes coupled with the
five-year drought (1970-1975) later led to the establishment of 11 River Basin
Development Authorities (RBDAs) across the nation (NINCID, 1999).
So many other irrigation schemes have been established under these River Basin
Development Authorities since inception, with the aim of providing food for all
through food security projects.
2.3
Commercial Farming
Commercial farming can be defined as the production of crops for sale, crops
intended
for
widespread
distribution
to
wholesalers
or
retail
outlets
(e.g.
supermarkets), and any non-food crops such as cotton and tobacco, and food
crops.
However, commercial farming does not include crops grown for household
consumption (e.g. backyard garden or from a vegetable garden or a few fruit
trees.)
Commercial farming can further be said to be a progression from diversified farming,
where the farmer's intention is to produce goods for sale primarily for widespread
consumption by others. The farmer may acquire a sufficiently large amount of
arable land and/or sufficiently advanced technology (such as hybrid seeds,
fertilizers, pesticides, etc.). At this point, it may become more profitable for the
farmer to specialize and focus on one or a few particular crops due to economies of
scale. This may be further augmented by higher levels of technology that might
significantly reduce the risk of poor harvests.
Another important difference between commercial farming and subsistence
farming is the new emphasis on capital formation, scientific progress and
technological developments, as opposed to a reliance mainly on natural resource
utilization that is common to subsistence and diversified farming.
Commercial farming development projects are basically established to strengthen
agricultural production systems and facilitate access to market for targeted value
chains among small, medium and large scale commercial farmers.
2.4
Investment in Irrigation
Nigeria is listed by FAO among nations that are at the moment technically unable to
meet their food needs from rainfed production at low level of inputs and appear
likely to remain so even at intermediate levels of inputs, between 2000 and 2025.
The Investment in Irrigation to supplement rainfed agriculture has become necessary
to alleviate food insecurity for the teeming population of Nigeria. Food security,
considered as the access to food at all times by all peoples, is one of the major
concerns of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Food demand grows at the same
pace as the population growth but because of the modification of diet in the cities
(increasing consumption of rice and wheat among the cereals), part of the demand
would have to be met through food imports, not because these demand cannot be
met at home (Nigeria) but because there are no total commitment to commercial
agriculture on both rainfed and irrigated farming (NINCID, 1999).
However, it is important to note that the development of water resources, especially
for irrigation purposes in Nigeria, dates back to the Pre-colonial era and the
traditional application of water to land for dry season farming in Northern Nigeria
was one of the earliest attempts made towards increasing agricultural production.
Though Nigeria has not developed irrigation to the same extent as other developing
nations, particularly in Asia, only about a million hectares is currently irrigated in
Nigeria. By contrast, India, which has about 3.5 times the land mass of Nigeria,
irrigates nearly forty-five (45) times as much land.
Nigerian government (federal, states and some few local governments) has invested
so much in irrigation through the provision of some basic irrigation infrastructures
ranging from dams (concrete and earth dams), weir, boreholes (motorized and
hand-pump operated), canals (main and minor canals), sprinklers, etc; even the
seeds and seedlings were provided through farm managers and extension agents.
2.5
'Arable' is the term used to describe the system of farming which uses ploughed
fields to grow crops. Arable farming has made Nigeria sustainable ever before the
discovery of petroleum. Therefore commercial arable farming is the cultivation of
land to grow crops on a large scale. It is carried out, either as rainfed or irrigated
scheme. Commercial Arable farming involves the use of large acreage of land and
usually goes with mechanization, i.e. the use of farm machineries and implements
like tractors, cultivators, ploughs, harrows, boom sprayers, etc. It also includes the
application of modern agricultural practices like irrigation, drainage, crop rotation,
fertilizer application, etc. Specialization is also encouraged in commercial farming as
it involves the expertise of many professionals in various fields connected with
The most basic and direct impact of reduction of inflation rate in the economy on
the average Nigerian is felt more on the prices of primary food items. Given the
various theories of the behaviour of man, it is obvious that the satisfaction of man's
food requirement is the first basic need of man. Where inflation erodes the ability of
man to satisfy this first need for his existence, then life in itself is threatened and
makes governance near impossible. One can derive justification for this assumption
from the popular saying - a hungry man is an angry man and, of course, it would
imperatively mean that an angry man would be difficult to govern. An analysis of
this symbiosis shows how inflation in the midst of poor supply of agricultural products
can lead to chaos and anarchy. Not only that, since a large proportion of industry
requires raw materials from the agricultural sector, a depletion of supply through the
parasitic effect of inflation ultimately leads to greater decline in economic
performance of the nation.
3.2
Employment Generation
agriculture due to commercial farming can then be properly trained and engaged
in other sectors of the economy for the widening of the scope and output in the
economy.
3.3
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being the aggregate of all domestically
generated revenue is a measure of a nations economic growth.
In a peasant
agricultural sector would not only ensure adequate provision of food to feed our
ever growing population and provide raw materials for industries, but would also
provide for export purposes and increase the quantity of goods and services
produced in the economy.
developing other important sectors of our economy, thus raising the living standard
of the populace and boosting the economic prosperity of the nation.
Commercial arable farming would also reduce the number of people engaged in
agricultural production and make them available for other useful purposes that will
generate more revenue for the economy.
3.4
Balance of Payment
A country that relies heavily on imported food and raw materials to feed her
populace and to satisfy her industrial requirements without adequate export
activities to offset this import expenditure cannot be expected to have a favourable
balance of payment. Indeed, such an economy is prone to economic instability as
it is would become vulnerable to the whims and caprices of her trading partners on
which it is dependent.
The yearly poor performance of Nigeria's balance of payment position could be
significantly improved as evidenced from the performance of such other countries
that depend on agriculture for economic prosperity such as Denmark, Malaysia, etc.
It can be imagined what (balance of payment) benefits would have accrued to
Nigeria if the huge revenue derived from petroleum over the years had been
effectively utilized in developing the commercial arable farming, with all its multiplier
effects on the life of our nation.
4.0
4.1
Urbanization
Urbanization will also increase water withdrawals for domestic and industrial use
resulting in less water being made available for agriculture. Though the quantity of
water withdrawal for domestic and industrial uses might be relatively small, the
quality of the return flows from both, are often seriously degraded. Because water is
essential for agriculture, the most important external environmental effects on
agriculture are related to the availability and quality of water.
More so that, water resource potential of Nigeria is estimated to be 250,000 million
cubic meters (MCM) comprising 190,000 MCM of surface water with the balance in
the form of groundwater. This not withstanding, water is still a limiting factor to
agriculture in most part of the country, especially in the semi-arid and sub-humid
zones lying above latitude eleven degrees (110) north.
Rural to urban drift, particularly by the youth, in search of greener pasture, increasing
urban food demand without directly contributing to it, is a serious global problem
4.3
Crops Grown
The major crops grown in the country can be divided into two main groups: food
crops (produced for consumption) and cash crops. Despite the importance of the
cash crops, the primary policy of agriculture is to make Nigeria self-sufficient in its
food requirements. However, not all crops can individually be cultivated in all parts
of Nigeria; this is because of so many factors that include among others, climatic
and vegetation differences, soil types, pest and disease infested areas. For instance,
cotton and groundnuts are cultivated in the north, while cocoa and oil palm are for
the south. Therefore, no matter how you look at it, there are obvious limitations to
where and to what extent certain crops can be cultivated.
4.4
As some people own surplus arable lands, so it is that some suffer in search of it to
cultivate some crops; some of these land owners trade with the land extorting the
hard working people that are ready to put it to use. Government on her part has
tried through the Ministries of agriculture and agencies like NALDA to make
agricultural land available to all as much as possible, but alas, not much progress
was made.
The problem of land ownership in Nigeria has no doubt affected agricultural
development; as not all have equal right and access to land, especially agricultural
lands.
4.5
Nigeria is divided into diverse ecological and eco-climatic Zones. Based on these,
different crops are grown at different regions. These have affected the types of soil
and soil fertility and off-course the species of microorganism there with.
The micro-organism found in soil help to nourish the soil in many ways, among which
is the decomposition/degradation of both organic and inorganic (foreign) materials;
converting them into useful elements in the soil, and invariably placing different soil
nutrients at different places in different times of the year.
10
4.6
Population growth reduces the per capita availability of fresh water supplies,
leading to stress or even scarcity. Under a new classification scheme, a country with
an annual renewable fresh water supply per capita of more than 1,700 cubic meters
(m3) will experience only occasional scarcity of fresh water supplies.
5.0
Technology as a term means many things to several people and these depend on
the setting or the context.
practical art which utilizes scientific knowledge. The object is usually to advance
and enhance human society and conditions. Technology is used to harness the
forces of nature and transform the resources that nature has bestowed on man, into
goods and services for better quality life.
Traditional Technologies:
These are the simplest and most basic technology for agricultural mechanization in
use to some extent for commercial agriculture in Nigeria. These technologies range
from the traditional cutlasses and hoes, to the developed stick and stone tools which
are the only means to enhance labour productivity in the pre-historic times. These
hand tool technologies use man as a power source; and are inefficient and
ineffective. Man is limited to about 0.1hp continuous power output and is therefore,
grossly inefficient as a primary source of power. However, in many parts of Nigeria
where arable farmers are predominantly peasants, traditional technologies are still
important.
As a step further in the traditional technology, animal muscle power is substituted for
human power, a process which already started in ancient civilization.
A large
variety of implements and machines have been developed which use animals as
11
the principal power source. According to Ajav (2000), the current animal traction
areas of the country can be classified into four distinct regions, namely:
The following is the overall view of the animal traction technology in Nigerian Arable
farming, (Ajav, 2000)
-
Over 2 million Farmers spread across 19 states of the federation are actively
involved in the use of animal traction.
Less than 10% of the 2 million active animal traction farmers exploit the full
potentials of animal traction through the use of limited available implements.
Most of other farmers are only familiar with the ridging and transport
equipment and their operation.
Most farmers lack animal drawn equipment like ploughs, harrows, planters,
weeders and harvesters.
Hoe
7.5
1.0
7.5
86.0
Power Source
Animal power
0.1
5.0
0.5
5.5
Tractor
0.015
50.0
0.75
8.5
Improved Technologies
12
13
Traditional Farming
Small (1-5ha)
Tools/Equipment
Crops
Many
species
(5-80)
landraces, no genetic
improvement,
wide
genetic base
Several species
Manual, human energy or
animal power
Follows,
ash,
organic
manures
Complex:
Tractors
and
implements, threshers, and
other better quality and higher
output equipment.
Few Species (1-3) improved
narrow genetic base.
Animals
Labour
Soil
maintenance
fertility
Physical/cultural
Harvesting
Manual
Appropriate Technologies:
14
Local
Small-size tractors, mini-power tillers, and small farm equipment must meet the
needs of commercial arable farmers. Operators safety and comfort must also
be considered.
The high cost of fossil fuel in Nigeria emphasizes the need to develop energy
efficient machines by harnessing non conventional sources of energy.
6.0
Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa, with a total geographical area of
923,768 square kilometers and an estimated population of 140 million (2006
estimate). Nigeria has a highly diversified agro-ecological condition, which enables
her to produce wide range of arable crops. Hence, agriculture constitutes one of
the important sectors of the economy. The Nigerian agriculture had been at the
subsistence level in the past years, but with the introduction of labour saving
devices, tractors, equipment and tools, commercial agriculture is now being
practiced.
6.1.1
Food Security:
Food security guarantees all human beings physical and economic access to the
basic foods needed to lead active and healthy lives. It is a dynamic process that is
closely linked to thematic topics of poverty, human capacity, creation of
employment and generation of income in an ever changing spiral that can move
upward and downward. With the introduction of improved technologies to arable
farming in Nigeria, commercial agriculture has been boasted thus, resulting in the
production of varieties of crops with high yield all year round, and to a reasonable
extent securing the availability of food to the Nigerian populace.
15
6.1.2
With the advent of technologies, in agriculture, family farms which previously were at
subsistence level have been encouraged to participate in agricultural trade thereby
increasing their income.
Rural Development:
generated for the rural dwellers. Other basic infrastructures like water and electricity
are also attracted to the rural villages, thus bringing about rural development.
6.1.4
Before the advent of mechanization technologies for the processing and storage of
agricultural crops, most commercial farmers export their farm produce like cocoa,
rubber, coffee, cassava, fruits and vegetables, etc., to other countries at very low
prices and in raw form.
commercial farmers can now add value to their produce and process them locally
to generate more income.
6.1.5
Increase in Productivity:
The essence of technology in any business is to increase the productivity per labour
and income. Technology input to commercial agriculture in Nigeria has helped to
sustain business profitability.
technology input that will ensure the desired profitability must not be neglected.
Technologies like early maturing, high yielding and disease resistant varieties, etc.,
have no doubt impacted positively on the commercial arable farming in Nigeria; so,
also are the, mechanization technologies that have reduced labour, ensured
timeliness of operation and at the same time improve productivity.
6.1.6
16
Diversification of Investments:
These
diversified investments have yielded more income, generated employment and also
sustained the commercial farming business in Nigeria.
6.2
According to Ekpere, (1995), the last twenty years have witnessed great investment
in agriculture and agricultural mechanization technologies, as well as in research
and development of new technologies in Nigeria. The research efforts at the
national and international research centres like IITA, Ibadan; NCRI Badegi; IAR&T,
NCAM, NSPRI, ARCEDAM, etc., have resulted in significant yield in many crops, insect
and pests control, livestock and fisheries production, processing and storage
equipment; Yet farmers are sceptical in taking full advantage of these technologies.
Technologies are viable only when they are used by farmers. No matter how well
new technologies work on research stations, if farmers do not use them, their
development would have been in vain (Sandra etal. 1989).
Therefore, for
Proper Awareness:
There is no doubt that various technologies for increase in production and drudgery
reduction have been developed or imported into the country.
But lack of
For any technology to be adopted, it must be relevant to the needs and aspiration
of the end user. There would be no need for an early maturing variety of cowpea or
rice if there are no mechanical dryers to dry them as soon as they are harvested.
Also, there would not be any need for a tractor mounted tuber harvester if there are
17
Affordability of Technology:
One of the reasons why some technologies are not adopted is because they may
not be socially or culturally compatible with the people in the community where
they are to be used. For instance, in a community where most of the available
labour are female, they may not be allowed to operate some machines or
equipment. In such an environment, no mater how effective that technology is, the
adoption will be hindered.
6.2.5
Most Farmers in Nigeria are illiterates and so are very conservative. They find it
difficult to let go some of the age long agricultural practices that has been handed
over to them by their fore fathers. Even, when they are willing to learn, they lack the
means through which they can be taught because of their literacy level. However,
with proper extension services using local languages, this problem can be reduced.
7.0
TECHNOLOGIES
FOR
18
New
horizon would be covered through bilateral cooperation with sister research institutes
in Nigeria and some African Countries. Such a bilateral co-operation was to be
entered into with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for whom some machines and
equipment would be fabricated by NCAM.
Within the mandate of each research institute, different research and development
activities have been carried out. Such activities include:
-
19
Research Institute
Mandate
Ecological Zone
Covered
1.
National Centre
for Agricultural
Mechanization
(NCAM), Idofian,
Ilorin, Kwara State
Cocoa Research
institute of Nigeria
(CRIN), Ibadan
Forestry Research
Institute of Nigeria
(FRIN), Ibadan
Ecological zones
encompassing
Kano, Sokoto,
Katsina, Kaduna,
Kebbi and Zamfara
states.
2.
3.
Institute for
Agricultural
Research (IAR),
Zaria.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified crops.
Northern and
Western zones of
Nigeria
(N.W. Zone
6.
Institute of
Agricultural
Research and
Training (IAR&T),
Ibadan
Lake Chad
Research Institute
(LCRI), Maiduguri
20
Ecologies
encompassing
Borno, Yobe,
Gombe, Jigawa,
Bauchi and
Adamawa states
7.
National
Agricultural
Extension and
Research Liaison
Services (NAERLS),
Zaria.
8.
National Animal
Production
Research Institute
(NAPRI), Zaria.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified animals
9.
National Cereals
Research Institute
(NCRI), Badeggi
10.
National Institute
for Freshwater
Fisheries Research
(NIFFR), New
Bussa.
Ecological zones
covered by the
fisheries and
aquatic resources.
National Institute
for Horticultural
Research
(NIHORT), Ibadan
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants.
12.
National Root
Crops Research
Institute (NRCRI),
Umudike.
Anambra, Enugu,
Cross River, Ebonyi,
Imo, Abia, Rivers
State, Akwa Ibom,
Bayelsa and
Plateau States.
National
Veterinary
Research Institute
(NVRI), Vom, Jos
13.
21
Ecological zones
covered by the
animals.
14.
Ecological zones
covered by the
ocean and
territorial waters.
Nigerian Institute
for Oceanography
and Marine
Research (NIOMR),
Lagos.
15.
Nigerian Institute
for Oil Palm
Research (NIFOR),
Benin City.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants.
16.
Rubber Research
Institute of Nigeria
(RRIN), Benin City.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants.
17.
Ecological zones
covered by the
plants.
Nigerian Institute
for
Trypanosomiasis
Research (NITR),
Kaduna.
Ecological zones
covered by the
animal.
19.
Nigerian Stored
Product Research
Institute (NSPRI),
Ilorin
Ecological zones
covered by the
plants.
National Research
Institute for
Chemical
Technology
(NARICT), Zaria.
22
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants
and animal.
21.
National Institute
for
Pharmaceutical
Research and
Development
(NIPRD), Abuja.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants.
22.
National Centre
for Genetic
Resources and
Biotechnology
(NAGRAB),
Ibadan.
Ecological zones
covered by the
specified plants
and animal.
7.2
The Nigerian banking system is geared primarily at larger corporate lending, where
the transaction costs relative to the loans are low and the level of risk, security and
borrower sophistication are good from a lenders point of view. To overcome this
propensity towards the larger scale borrowers, of the commercial and merchant
banks, the government has set up several development banks to assist the
agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy. Aside from launching the Nigerian
Agricultural and Cooperative Bank (NACB) as a financial institution devoted to
agricultural finance in 1973, the government also introduced the Agricultural Credit
Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) in cooperation with the Central Bank in 1978, and
directed banks to allocate their credit portfolio to certain preferred sectors, of which
agriculture featured very prominently. However, ACGSF recorded very limited
success. To ensure the continued relevance of ACGSF in the agricultural
development efforts of government, a number of modifications have been made to
the scheme since the SAP era, and they include the following:
i)
ii)
iii)
Refinancing Scheme
iv)
In addition to the above, the formation of the National Agricultural Cooperative and
Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) from NACB, Peoples Bank and the Family
Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP), the recent consolidation exercise in
the Nigerian banking system leading to the formation of mega-banks has
23
dramatically increased the scope and pool of available capital for commercial
farming development. Essentially, the country now possesses the basic financial
infrastructure required to fully realize its commercial farming potentials (Oni, 2004).
7.3
following
areas,
according
to
Simalenga
(2000),
clearly
underscore
24
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
7.4
25
strengthen the Rural Agricultural Industrial Development Schemes (RAIDS) for the
manufacture of intermediate prototype processing machines with world bank
assistance.
The Cassava Enterprises Development Project (CEDP) goal is to diversify and
strengthen rural economy in selected geopolitical zones in Nigeria using cassava as
the engine of growth. This CEDP is administered by the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA). It is targeted at resource poor producers, micro and
small scale processors, most of who are women; as well as fabricators, traders,
agribusiness entrepreneurs and consumers, as secondary beneficiaries.
The cassava initiative (CI) has shown encouraging statistics: production rose to 40 MT
of tuber in 2005. In the same year, gari (processed cassava) was exported to Sierra
Leone and first 40 MT of cassava chips to china (Opara, 2006). With the
mechanization of CI, it is expected that production will reach 150 MT of tubers by
2008.
The Rice Initiative (RI) is being facilitated by the National Cereals Research Institute
(NCRI) in collaboration with the West African Rice Development Association
(WARDA) with the objective of attaining an output of 9 MT of milled rice in 2007.
The Vegetable Oil Initiative (VOI) aims at developing large hectares of oil palm,
groundnuts, cotton seed, soybean, sheanut, castor oil, melon, sunflower, beniseed,
with the attendant mechanization for increased production and increasing the
nations capacity for edible oil production. With the ban on the importation of
vegetable oil, the organized private sector in Nigeria has taken the challenge and
has sustained local consumption.
For the Tree Crops Initiative (TCI) governments objective is the rapid multiplication
and distribution of high yielding, disease resistant and early maturing planting seeds,
seedlings and plantlets to farmers at subsidized rates. These trees are meant to
mitigate the devastating effects of deforestation, improve wood and timber
resources as well as on-timber forest products (NTFP): fruits, leaves, barks, fuel wood,
bush meat and medicinal plants (Spore, 2006).
The various tiers of the Government (Federal, State and Local Governments) can
play an important role in actualizing and maximizing the benefits accruable from
investments in Research and Development.
following:
Provision of enabling economic policy that enables the private sector and
research institutions to contribute maximally.
26
Provision of credit facilities from banks and financial institutions to ease the
economic burden on the investors through loans at low interest rates.
8.1
In Nigeria, the land use decree of 1978 (Act 1999), makes no provision for the use of
urban land for crop production. This implies that agriculture is associated with rural
land use alone. Though the Land Use Act vests full title to land in the hands of Local
Government Councils, States and Federal government, the communities still remain
the traditional custodians of land in their domain, thus favoring the subsistent,
fragmented holdings by small-scale producers and entrepreneurs. Any desire to
acquire large contiguous land must take these facts into consideration.
As far as the decree is concerned, urban land development means the construction
of urban structures. The decree also vests all urban lands in the chief executive of
state governments (that is, the governors). This policy statement has encouraged
governors to deprive urban cultivators access to land through compulsory
acquisition of land and ejection, without compensation (except for mature crops),
of urban cultivators from acquired sites. Consequently, areas that were supposed to
serve as green belts have been allocated for urban construction (Olofin, 2003).
The unwritten law that encourages the cultivation of vacant parcels of land that
cannot be allocated for urban construction (such as in areas of aviation installations,
aprons of railway tracks, etc.) has neither been formalized nor gazetted. It was part
of a speech that ushered in Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) in 1976 and reechoed during the launching of Green Revolution in 1980, encouraging Nigerians
to cultivate all available land in the cities and at ones backyard. Thus, cultivators of
such public vacant lands are merely squatters whose tenure are very insecure.
Insecurity of tenure, especially among small-scale farmers has been known to act as
27
Funding
All Research
Institutes in Nigeria have had unexpected instability in funding, especially in the last
few years. Many projects cannot be completed because of cuts in support. Related
to this is the arbitrary manner in which funds are allocated among various kinds of
agricultural research.
The issue of subsidy of agricutural inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides also
raise serious concerns to commercial farming. The government allocation of
agricultural inputs to various states usually do not get to the end users, particularly, at
the time they are required. This constitutes great problems as it affects timeliness of
operation, thus, eventually affecting the final crop yield.
8.3
Inadequate infrastructure
28
Labour force has reduced from 70% to about 60 - 65%. The farming population
continues to decline due to ageing and there is no improvement in the level of
literacy.
The scenario is exacerbated by the continuous migration of young able bodies from
rural settings to the already exploding urban Centres in search of economic
empowerment.
8.5
29
Quite often, farm productivity is low not because of limited supply of machinery and
equipment, or the capacity to produce, but largely because of inability of farm
manager to harness human and material resources to bring about enhanced
agricultural productivity (Oni, 1996). In essence, farm managers must assume better
management strategies for their machinery and equipment systems if they are to
make profit.
9. THE WAY FORWARD
In order to guarantee the adoption of appropriate technology for commercial
arable crop farming in Nigeria, attention must be focused on the following action
areas:
(a)
Investing in Irrigation
It is important to note that commercial agriculture in Nigeria can neither
flourish nor be sustained on rainfed farming alone. This is because most viable
arable lands in Nigeria are found in places that experience low rainfall.
Therefore, investing in irrigation and irrigation infrastructure provides high
prospects for intensive commercial farming development in Nigeria.
(b)
Resource Recovery
The design, construction, manufacture and maintenance of the technology
for commercial arable crop farming must involve deliberate policies to ensure
re-use of raw materials. In Nigeria wood, plastic and steel (scrap) industries
need special attention.
(c)
(d)
Provisions of Infrastructure
The lack of infrastructural facilities for the development of small-medium-scale
industries which provide way of developing indigenous technology is one of
the factors militating against the indigenization of technology. The provision
of these infrastructures will give an assurance for the development of
indigenous technology suited for commercial farming in Nigeria.
30
9.5
Provision of policy that would enable the private sector, multinationals, and
others to contribute to research and development through a special taxation
process.
9.6
The lack of fund to back the activities of the research institutes has been one of the
greatest impediments to the development of indigenous technology for commercial
farming in Nigeria. The private sector needs to be enlightened on the importance of
their contributions to the growth of indigenous technology. The support given to
research and development by this sector will go a long way in the development
and adoption of the technologies for commercial farming in Nigeria.
9.7
Research and
development should be tied to demand by the users which will help the researchers
to be focused. There should also be good extension services or marketing strategies
as the case may be to convince the end users to adopt the new technology. Thus,
there should be a two-way flow of information between the researcher/developer
and the end users of the technology.
9.8
Training
Research staff of the various research institutions lack the necessary training and
exposure due to dwindling fund for training by the institutions.
extension agents and the end users of the developed technologies. Efforts should
be made to conduct training and re-training of these interest groups to enhance the
adoption and efficient use of the developed technologies for commercial farming in
Nigeria
31
10
CONCLUSION
Hence,
developing nations the means to achieve these aims so as to build an efficient and
prosperous economy. However, to achieve these, technology must be indigenous
or home-grown and integrated into the national life and continuously promoted and
upgraded to ensure sustainability.
32
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