The Director of Studies, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Olufemi Oladunni, has urged government at all levels to improve the quality and quantity of its data on agriculture and rural areas if it is to continue meeting the demands of a growing population.
Oladunni, while speaking with newsmen stated that the data was vital for effective planning and strategy, noting that the accuracy and quality of agricultural statistics, has become a key priority as the government strives to develop more effective policies to tackle its food security problems.
While the  National Bureau of Statistics( NBS) is taking  steps to improve  on the situation, Oladunni said the  agricultural sector needs an industry  specific data that  is  timely, accurate, and reliable that  can be used by decision makers to develop policies, programs and investments that improve people’s lives.
According to him, reliable statistics are vital in tracking country needs and achievements and that accurate government expenditure data are needed to track the country’s commitments and expenditures on agriculture.
He said the relevant authorities must find better ways to collate agricultural data  as  attempts  to use figures to better predict the future of farming failed because the available statistics were either unreliable or not detailed enough to be useful.
Oladunni, while ensuring that an equitable and sufficient future food supply is of critical importance, noted that the industry needs reliable statistics   to justify the claims of increasing food production.
According to him, industry statistics must reflect the pattern of structural change that the level of agricultural production and projected food demand targets.
He   emphasized the importance of connecting, national policy-makers, businesses, investors, researchers and analysts with official agricultural statistics, calling for national assessments that will generate reliable and timely food and agricultural statistics.
He    believes that the availability of accurate comparable agricultural data would enable farmers to make better production and marketing choices and in so doing, boost agricultural productivity and incomes.
Quality data, he   added would allow the country to develop more effective agricultural policies, monitor and evaluate progress.

As part of efforts to develop and promote the capacity of farmers operating in different agricultural value chain for the purpose of increasing their productivity, the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and N2 Africa; a Belinda and Bill Gate Foundation sponsored organization has join forces and flagged off a training programme on use of inoculants and  manual planter to plant Soybean variety called TGX 1904 – 6F which was developed and tested by IITA for tropical condition.
AgroNigeria Correspondent, Kehinde Osasona, reports that the training which held at the demonstration farm site of Malete Youth Farm Centre in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State showcased crops of Local Farmers, Women farmers and Youth farmers from the locality.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Consultant Hybrid Agro Biz Consultant, Mohammed Ubale said the three groups involved in the project came up with the inoculants technology option in order to explore and enhance fixation capacity of soybean to fix nitrogen which is always needed by the crop and soil in particular.
“Soybean enriches the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil and through this training, farmers will learn how to use inoculants on Soybean to increase their yield especially now that demand for it in the market is on the increase, coupled with the fact that its high tolerant capability cannot be underestimated” he said.
Also speaking, the logistics and training officer, HABC, Shuaib Kadir lauded the small holder farmers for their great contribution to the food needs of the populace even in the face of seasonal challenges.
“We identified that soybean farmers in Kwara State are yet to fully utilize their comparative advantage in the production of this crop and as I speak to you we have a demonstration plot in Oke Oyi and Malete as a way of stepping down the training and by the grace of God, it shall spread through the entire 16 Local Government of the State.
“Another good thing is that the new soybean variety and our monitoring officers would ensure that the 3-7 tons projected per hectare harvest is achieved as against less than 2 tons being recorded by farmers” He noted.
One of the trainers, Mumuni Onimago assured that the absence of the rainfall notwithstanding, the introduction of inoculants will help the nitrogen fixation in the soil to achieve high percentage growth rate.
He added that the organization is looking forward to structuring more farmers into cluster group so that they can all benefit from the off-taker plans they have on ground through an accredited processor.

On Friday, 7th of August 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Kanayo Nwanze at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the meeting, President Buhari affirmed keeping his campaign promise of expanding the country’s Agricultural sector, while stating that petroleum will no longer be sufficient for major revenue generation. “It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice … We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures,” the President said.
President Buhari admitted that there’s a lot of work to be done in developing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, hence the need to work with organizations like IFAD for advice. In response, Dr. Nwanze assured the president of IFAD’s willingness to help him achieve his goal for agriculture in the country.
As the country turns to agriculture for succour, there are a number of challenges the president ought to tackle in the development of the agricultural sector.
Funding
As with most businesses, capital or lack of investment is an issue for the average Nigerian farmer. Those interested in expanding their farms and consequently product output, have very little, or no funds at all.
President Buhari needs to make agricultural funds readily available for potential farmers, and local farmers hoping to expand their farms.
The president briefly touched on this problem when he said on Friday, “… we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures.”
Funding is not restricted to finance alone; farmers can be funded by government’s  provision of machineries, and hybrid seeds at subsidized rates. However, in solving funding problems, there’s the issue of corruption to be tackled.  This administration must ensure that funds are properly and directly channelled to reach targeted farmers, not embezzled by public servants.
Policies and regulations
The government needs to put in place, policies and regulations that are favourable to farmers, and will change the face of agriculture in the country. Unfavourable regulations that are in place should also be aborted; President Buhari did mention on Friday, that his government would cut short the long bureaucratic processes that Nigerian farmers had to go through to get any form of assistance from government.
An increase in the percentage of budget allocation for agriculture is necessary; one that is enough to combat the challenges in the sector. Plus a ban on the importation of some locally produced food will definitely help boost production and development in agriculture.
Infrastructure
Electricity, lack of good roads, and water management systems are major infrastructural problems that should be tackled for the improvement of the sector. Electricity is needed for the running of machines and the storage and processing of certain food crops. Farmers who could afford the practice of mechanized farming opt for manual labour as the cost of running machines with an alternative source of power is often steep.
Good roads are a catalyst to agricultural growth; they contribute directly to the amount of outputs. In Nigeria, the number of  roads needed for the transportation of crops from the farm land to the cities are limited.  Therefore, more road networks need to be created, and existing roads that are in bad shape, needs to be fixed for improved productivity of farmers.
Regarding irrigation, there’s a need to strengthen institutional arrangements for integrated water resources management. Access to irrigation and drainage services must be improved upon for the expansion of food production in Nigeria.
Agro-education
The government must solve ‘agro-illiteracy’ and develop programmes on modern agriculture for farmers. For rural farmers who barely understand English, a special programme on modern agriculture should be crafted for them in their native languages as the number of dedicated full time farmers in Nigeria are in the rural areas.
Agro education also means instilling the importance of farming in students. This can be done by actively engaging students in actual farming practices rather than running just theory courses.  However, educating farmers would be useless without necessary infrastructures put in place.
Agriculture plays a major role in Nigeria’s economy, providing a labour force of over 60 percent. Though the sector has seen improvements in past years, it is yet to be fully developed and explored. President Buhari’s administration has the opportunity to leverage on agriculture and make it the country’s new petroleum.

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to, in the interest of Nigeria’s economy, vigorously pursue and implement the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the immediate past administration in order to move the country forward.
This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the One-Day South West Town Hall Meeting convened by AgroNigeria recently in Ibadan, Oyo State capital
After an extensive deliberation, the Nigerian farmers (South-West zone), unanimously resolved that President Buhari should never politicize Agriculture, rather he should consolidate on the laudable policies of the immediate past administration especially ATA to move the sector to the next level.
They maintained that the present administration should continue to pursue and implement the ATA which had started on a very sound footing. They also recommended that all the states in the South West Nigeria should as a matter of priority, invest massively into commercial agriculture; insisting there must be urgent efforts calculated at bridging the gap in food production between the North and the South.
The forum also resolved that: “Policy formulations should adopt bottom-up and end-user-driven intervention approaches especially on fundamental issues affecting agriculture. The Farm Settlement Scheme should be resuscitated, strengthened and better positioned to address the 21st Century needs of agriculture. Attitudinal orientation should be encouraged and institutionalized by all stakeholders as this will address the negative impressions of the youth in going into agriculture. Migratory Fulani herdsmen should be integrated into the national agricultural policy to proffer lasting solution to the frequent clashes between them and other farmers.”
The meeting also resolved that youth and women in agriculture should be accorded priority attention whenever policies on financial interventions are being formulated; adding that there must be a national declaration of a state-of-emergency in agriculture that will insist on a policy that Nigeria has no reason to be food insecure.
The farmers frowned at the current huge infrastructural gaps in the rural areas and insisted same must urgently be addressed to make for a rewarding season for agricultural practitioners; adding that the communication gaps between farmers and policy implementation must be bridged. They argued that Agriculture in all its ramifications must be projected and made to be profitable and worthwhile, and emphasis should be placed on training and capacity development for agriculture
practitioners, especially women and youths.
“Agriculture-friendly financing policies must be encouraged especially among the deposit banks in Nigeria for a more widespread impact on the economy, extension services should be given urgent priority attention as the current level of extension services are inadequate nationwide. Risk management and insurance policies should be tailored towards the generality of Nigerian farmers in order to make the sector competitive and attractive to investors,” the communiqué stated.

Buhari strategises for employment opportunities through agriculture

The critical role of agriculture in generating jobs for numerous Nigerians re-echoed at the weekend in Abuja during the inauguration of President Mohammed Buhari.
Agriculture according to experts has the potential of generating “millions of jobs” in Nigeria, if adequately harnessed.
The immediate past minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adewunmi Adeshina, who, incidentally is now President of Africa Development Bank (AfDB) campaigned vigorously for the revival of agriculture as part of measures to generate numerous jobs on a sustainable basis during the last administration.
Also, experts and labour leaders have called for agricultural legislation to pave way for policy and strategy that creates synergy between industrial agriculture and smallholder farmers with a focus on internal food security and food export.
Presenting his inaugural speech at the colourful ceremony, Buhari explained that unemployment, especially among youths feature prominently in the All Progressive Congress (APC) manifesto.
The APC had during the campaign pledged to create three million jobs on an annually basis.
According to Buhari, the new administration intends to attack “frontally” the challenges associated with unemployment through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick–start these enterprises.
He said: “We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure”.
Buhari’s resolve to ginger agricultural activities is coming on the heels of calls by the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the government to tackle unemployment challenges ravaging the country.
Specifically, NLC President Ayuba Wabba is of the opinion that adequate attention must be paid to agriculture “which has a capacity of employing millions of our people”.
He explained that Government must lead the way by making farming attractive to young people through the provision of modern agricultural inputs, equipment and other relevant infrastructure.
“There is also need to establish strong linkages between different sectors of our economy especially with regards to promoting industrialization and manufacturing that is focused on turning our agricultural products and other natural resources into quality semi processed and fully processed goods”.
He said: “An economy that is subserviently reliant on importation is only exporting jobs. There is need for government to begin to look at development from the prism of tapping into the abundant economic potentials offered by the entrepreneurial drive of the Nigerian people and the resources locked up in our soil.
“Government must build a bridge between the two. The bridge should be transparent and effective investment in other critical national infrastructure such as efficient education system, health system, railway system, national inter-state super highway grids, inland waterways, and dams”, Wabba said.
NLC explained that with 1.8 million youths being turned out of tertiary institutions annually, and with unemployment standing at a conservative estimate of 53 per cent, “there is virtually no household in Nigeria today where there is not at least one unemployed graduate who has spent the last three to nine years looking for the elusive job.
“In a country in dear need of scientists, it is unimaginable that hundreds of thousands of core science graduates are among the army of the unemployed. To say that this is a time bomb ticking gradually towards inevitable explosion is a gross understatement”.
Setting agenda for the new administration, NLC emphasized the need to diversify the economy and by extension create more jobs.
He said: “The diversification of the economy from oil is long overdue and is made urgent by recent developments in the crude oil production and market scenes, especially the shale oil and new findings across the world.
The enunciation of an agricultural legislation, policy and strategy that create synergy between industrial agriculture and small-holder farmers with a focus on internal food security and food export is a necessity”.
Despite the country’s wealth, Nigeria according to labour leaders remains “ironically a country with a high level of economic growth co-existing with a high level of poverty and inequality.
“While this growth is skewed towards enabling the rich to get richer no attempt is made to ensure that the wealth trickles down to the extreme poor. The most affected, have been workers and working families under the yoke of poor remuneration, uncertainty in the workplace, absence of reasonable social benefits, vulnerable work conditions and retrenchments.
“While the country in recent times is confronted with apparent fiscal and structural challenges exacerbated by low returns on oil price, the agony of workers should not be compounded by making them sacrificial lambs of economic mismanagement.
“Rather, the focus should be on job security and improving on the compensation structure as well as standardizing the social dialogue system to stem inequality and the brewing social discontent.
“The starting point should be to clear the outstanding wages of workers who have been denied payment of salaries ranging from two to eight months by all tiers of government. To argue that these wages will be kept in abeyance because they were owed by past governments will be unfair and unjust as we believe that government is a continuum”, said Wabba.
Besides generating more jobs, NLC leaders are emphasising need for job security, pointing out that casualisation “continues to be an issue in our relations with employers, many of whom are not prepared to pay for the labour they use”.
NLC said: ”We at the Nigeria Labour Congress recognise the transformations that have taken place around the world of work, where rigidity has given way to flexibility. However, we do not think Casualisation can be an option. This is a grievous anti-worker practice, which makes nonsense of our quest for decent jobs.
“In line with our promises to the Nigerian workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress under my leadership will offer strident resistance against casualization and outsourcing of jobs.
“While we encourage our affiliate unions to re-double their efforts in tackling this hydra-headed monster, we enjoin the government to partner with us to stamp out this ugly menace in our workplaces.
“The first direct symptom of the prevailing economic crunch; the continuous devaluation of the naira, has dealt devastating blows on the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker.
“This is unacceptable! The last national minimum wage of N18, 000 which was negotiated in 2010, is clearly no longer of any meaningful economic value to workers as the inflationary trends engendered by the continuing devaluation of the naira has made the minimum wage now grossly inadequate”, said NLC.
It explained that the nation’s economy continues to grow without jobs bringing benefits to only a few. “We demand an economy that provides jobs and other benefits. Similarly, we demand a halt to the de-industrialization process and the free fall of the Naira. We believe the restoration of the textile industry will be a good starting point.
“The development of an industrial policy that revives and harnesses the potentials of iron and steel and petrochemical complexes as well as the founding of national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres are both desirable and necessary.
“A coherent response to the national debt burden (put at N1.3 trillion) that ensures government’s obligation to the citizenry is not encumbered and the erection of stronger fiscal buffers are similarly necessary for stabilizing and growing the economy”, Wabba said.
The new administration is also expected to consolidate on the immediate past government’s plan to revive textile sector and generate not less than 100,000 jobs.
Indeed, the newly launched national cotton, textile and garment policy according to the former Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga is expected to outlay the roadmap for the revival of the comatose textile industry.
This comes as government has also sealed a pact for the revival of industry with an international garment manufacturer, Vlisco group.
Speaking on the initiative in Abuja, the Minister said the pact is expected to generate 100,000 direct jobs between now and 2017 with another 1.3million indirect jobs expected.
He explained that about $59 investment flow is expected to be committed into the Nigerian industrial master plan with another $14 billion going into petroleum products, chemicals and fertilizer sub-sectors.
Aganga argued that the steps are already being taken to diversify Nigeria’s economy as shown in the identification of 13 items government is targeting to diversify the national economy base.
He added: “If we must realize our industrial dreams, we cannot continue to be a country that will be importing petroleum products but a net exporter of refined petroleum products. As at today, Nigeria already has a solution to the plummeting oil prices in the international market. All that is required is accelerating implementation process. By doing this, we will be able to diversify the economy of this nation. All military and para-military agencies and government schools are now to purchase Nigerian-made textiles and garments. In addition, we will work with the private sector, schools in particular are to be encouraged to source their materials locally.”
With an estimated, 170 million people, the Minister submitted that Nigeria is in line to becoming the third largest nation in the world by 2070 after India and China, which is a massive asset for textile industry and other related goods to thrive.
He also lamented the inability of Nigeria and other African countries to make maximum use of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows unfettered access to the United States economy.
His words: “Most countries in Africa have the opportunity to export goods to the United States of America under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Sadly, most African countries have not been able to take advantage of this opportunity available to the exportation of non-oil sector. Only Mauritius, Lesotho, Kenya and South Africa have taken the advantage of this opportunity. Nigeria has not taken the opportunity to do this quota and duty free to export goods to the United States.”
He listed the advantages of the policy to include a rise from the current level of 24, 000 jobs in the sector to 200,000 direct employment by 2017.
“Also, indirect employment is expected to increase from 650,000, which we have today to 1.3milion jobs by 2017. It is also expected that cotton farmers, factory workers, tailors, fashion designers, garment manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, logistic providers will all benefit from this policy. I am aware that some investors are presently exploring setting up of a tailoring academy in Nigeria. This will be another game changer that will have effect on job creation.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Vlisco group, Hans Ouwendijk, said the strategic partnership is a win-win situation for all concerned.
He said: “We want to assist Nigeria revitalize this important sector. Vlisco group has been operating since 1846. It designs, prints and distributes different garment brands. All the brands of garments we will be manufacturing in Nigeria will be a copy of what we do in other parts of the world with the same quality. We have started the process of getting cotton here in Nigeria for our operations. Discussions are on going with a Nigerian company to make this happen. From 1st of April 2015, our products will include cottons that are sourced from Nigeria. We have indeed began manufacturing in Nigeria and some of the products that were manufactured here have been exported to neighbouring countries like Ivory Coasts and Benin Republic.”
The NLC boss who addressed sundry issues during the May Day rally in Abuja recently, said: “We wish to emphasise that that Nigerian workers and indeed the whole global community expect a lot from him (Buhari) and his party (APC). The achievements of Buhari’s government will depend on the manner in which his administration immediately hits the ground, post inauguration; to deliver the change it promised Nigerians.
“Social challenges facing the Nigerian workers are many but it appears that most compelling are uncertainties in the work place. Many Nigerian workers are no longer sure of the commitment of employers to the fundamental work place principle of timely and adequate pay for work done.
“The gale of unpaid salary arrears in different public and private establishments has only compounded the perennial injustice of poor compensation for the sweat and blood of Nigerian workers.
“To crown frustrations faced by the average worker in Nigeria is the overt and covert threat of retrenchment devoid of reasonable social benefit or retirement plans. Delay and outright refusal by some states and federal agencies to pay the gratuities and pension of our retirees have forced our older colleagues into an undignified post work life. This is most unfortunate, reprehensible, abominable and condemnable”.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigerians must stop paying mere lip service to agriculture, as crude oil and gas exports will no longer be sufficient as the country’s major revenue earner. The president gave the charge at an audience with Kanayo Nwanze, the president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Friday.
“It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice. We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many want to go into agricultural ventures,’’ he said.
Mr. Buhari pledged that his administration would also cut short the long bureaucratic processes that Nigerian farmers had to go through to get any form of assistance from government.
He told the IFAD President that improvement of the productivity of farmers, dry season farming and creative ways to combat the shrinking of the Lake Chad will also receive the attention of his administration.
“There is so much to be done. We will try and articulate a programme and consult organisations like IFAD for advice,’’ he added.
According to the president, foreign exchange will be conserved for machinery and other items needed for production “instead of using it to import things like toothpicks’’.
Mr. Nwanze had earlier congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the general elections and assured him that IFAD was ready to give all possible assistance to the Federal Government and Nigerian farmers to boost agricultural production in the country.
Mr. Nwanze, who later spoke to State House correspondents, said IFAD had since 1985 been providing loans and grants in the nation’s agricultural sector to boost agricultural production.
“Nigeria has the largest portfolio of IFAD’s investment in Western and Central Africa and the second largest in Africa.
“But the case point here is that this country has all the endowments that it takes not only for it to produce enough food for its population but also to be the bread basket of region.
“And this is where my institution on my behalf, I offered our services and our support in the agenda of rural transformation as a key ingrate in this country’s economic and social development,’’ he said.
IFAD was established in 1978, and has been collaborating with Nigeria for over 30 years.
(NAN)

Agriculture to Replace Oil as Major Revenue Earner, Says Buhari

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said his administration will strive to revive agriculture by taking practical and concrete steps to restore it to its glorious position as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

He said his party would in addition give priority to tackling insecurity, corruption and implementing a comprehensive economic development plan geared towards promoting power supply, infrastructural development, industrialisation and job creation.

Buhari, who spoke at a dinner organised by the Abuja Private Sector Forum at the weekend on  the eve of the presidential debate from  where he opted out,  promised to run an efficient and transparent government and take practical and concrete steps to restore agriculture to its glorious position as the mainstay of our economy.

“We must stop paying lip service to agriculture by taking practical and concrete steps to restore it to its glorious position as the mainstay of our economy providing employment, food for our teeming population as well as leading foreign exchange earning,” he said.

On agricultural policy, Buhari said he will provide farmers with a dignified living through improved inputs, extension services, access to credits and price support mechanisms.

“We would re-vitalise the agricultural sector and make it the engine of growth, and source of job and wealth creation. Some of our policy thrust would include agricultural enterprises value chain and cluster development for commodities, and institutional framework and support for agribusiness investment.  In this regard, the Abuja Commodity Exchange shall be reinvigorated and supported.”

The former Head of State said he would work to maintain integrity and accountability in the affairs of governance if elected into office, adding that the main goal of his aspiration to lead the country is to help arrest economic drift and to promote the unity and development of our country.

“We shall also embark on a national infrastructural development programme that will promote road, air and water transportation in the country to make Nigeria a hub of the West African sub-region.

“We shall decisively bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end and promote lasting peace and stability in all the nooks and crannies of our nation. We would ensure that the victims of the insurgency are adequately rehabilitated and supported to restore their means of livelihood.

“We shall make accountability and transparency the hallmarks of our administration by ensuring that resources are well utilised through plugging all loopholes and eliminating wastages and corruption in governance. Anti corruption agencies shall be strengthened and given free hand to operate in discharging their statutory mandate,” he said.

“We shall promote sound macro-economic policy environment, run an efficient and transparent government, restore and strengthen financial confidence by putting in place a more robust monitoring, supervision and regulation of all financial institutions,” he said

The candidate also assured that the APC government will work to see that everyone is free to live and work in every part of the country.

He also said the APC government would decisively bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end and promote lasting peace and stability in all the nooks and crannies of the nation.

Speaking on the current dwindling oil prices that have brought about economic and social predicament, Buhari said his government would embark on multiple reform in the oil and gas sector and also refocus attention on agriculture as an alternative source of revenue.

“We would embark on multiple track reform in the oil and gas sector especially the government institutions like the NNPC, to block revenue transmission leakages and make them more efficient and accountable.”