Optimal agricultural development of Northern Nigeria

WEDNESDAY COLUMN BY USSIJU MEDANER

info@medaner.com, justme4justice@yahoo.com

Harnessing the gains of agricultural value chains will undoubtedly be the springboard for the revitalisation of the economy of northern Nigeria and the catalyst for the achievement of development of the region. Given the combination of the mass population of the region and the hugely available arable land in the region, it is a given that agriculture would be the backbone of the region. From there, we should be expecting net provision of job opportunities and livelihoods for a greater population of the people of the region.

We should all remember the fact that northern Nigeria is greatly endowed with vast arable lands that support a variety of economic crops, with favourable climatic conditions, abundant water resources, enough to transform the region into an agriculture hub. The reality as at today, even in the midst of gross national and regional food insecurity and biting unemployment, is that, agriculture in the region has failed to effectively take advantage of this potential and has continued to face myriad of challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, low productivity, access to market, as much as limited government commitment.

It is time to wake up and unlock the massive potential embedded in the sector in northern Nigeria. It is a matter of necessity; that we unfold and harness the entire gains over the agricultural value chains opportunities in the region.

We are at a point, when we must see agriculture beyond planting and harvesting; it must become an establishment, a huge commercial outlay and business that transform the financial and developmental outlook of our people and our region. We must begin to operate along the complete value chains of the sector by engaging massively in the series of activities and processes involved in the production, processes and marketing of agricultural products.

To do this, will imply that the government across the region will consciously invest in strengthening the farmers, processors and traders within the sector to increase both individuals income and regional take from the sector.

At this point, it is equally necessary that to be able to harness effectively and efficiently the gains, we must firstly understand what the challenges facing the region’s capabilities to develop the sector are, and be set to address them head-on. A major challenge we face in the north as far as the agriculture sector is concerned is the problem of low productivity; the outcome is hugely below the capacity of the region, as reported by several research works. The region has only been able to cultivate on a minute fraction of its arable land, and consequently has an average productivity level far below what it is capable of attaining at full usage of its available resources.

Also, across the region, the areas cultivated are marred with low harvests as a result of lack of access to improve seeds and seedlings, fertilizers and irrigation facilities. The governments across the region must unite to invest in agriculture; fund specific and wide range research and development agendas that improve and increase crops and animals yield in the region. Promoting the use of fertilizers and making them available for use must be a priority; improved seeds and seedlings, and irrigation facilities provisions must be taken seriously.

A second factor that challenges agriculture in the region is the unorganised market for crops and animal products. For as long as the farmers struggle to access markets for their produce, the incidences of low pricing and income will always remain a burning issue, and will cumulatively damp the zeal to maintain activities in the sector. The region would have to establish a unify market information system, to control the commerce end of the value chains. A robust database that supports and helps in coordinating the development of commodities exchange and trading platforms must be set up, summarily creating a strong marketing structure for agriculture produce across the region.

Another challenging issue is the problem of inadequate facilities and infrastructure that undermine all forms of agriculture in the region. To what extent does the region boast of good roads linking farming communities to final markets and processing sites? What of adequate storage facilities as a measure to increase production beyond current consumption and control prices? How many processing plants do we boast of in the region? We always end up with post harvest crisis, because these are not taking care of. We must address all these if we are serious about transforming the sector.

The next challenge is the problem of inadequate access to finance, and in most cases, none. Farming and agriculture businesses in the region face significant challenges accessing finance, including credit, grants and equity investments where grossly required. The leaders of the region must, as an issue of necessity, establish agriculture financing programs that are easily accessible, and include platforms for grants and equity investments in the sector. There must also be a grounded support system for agricultural insurance products to mitigate risks to investments in the sector.

In addition to these critical elements, the leadership of the region must also consider the need to promote value addition across the entire agriculture sector in the region. This must include the development of agro processing industries and facilities across the region to add values to raw produce. It will also involve support for the establishment of packaging and labeling facilities to enhance product qualities.

We will also have to go ahead from here to engage the instrumentality of government within the region to encourage private sector real investments in agriculture, either through Public-Private Partnership (PPPs) or direct engagements that must see a rapid development of agricultural businesses in the region.

Another factor would be the need to build capacities and skills for farmers in the region. We must see a rapid return of agricultural extension services and their field officers to boost capacities of farmers.

What crop value chains across the region should we be looking at developing and expanding? They include the rice value chain, looking at abounding opportunities in paddy production, processing and marketing. Then, the cereal value chain, including maize, millet and sorghum; the tomato value chain, the onion value chain, among a long list. All these, looking beyond planting, harvesting and marketing, to further processing of these crops into various other semi finished or finished products.

Another phase and critical element of the northern Nigeria agricultural sector is the livestock industry. We should begin to see livestock rearing and marketing beyond what it is now, and see the huge income-driven potentials it offers the entire region and the capacity to become a robust job creator for the unemployed youths of the region. We must convert it into a large coordinated business empire; especially by addressing the critical issues of breeding and genetics to improve quality and  quantity of cattles as well as improved milk and meat production.

We would need to establish platforms to do this, and also coordinate large scale artificial insemination and embryo transfer, using modern techniques to improve cattle genetics, reduce disease susceptibility and raise productivity. We must engage in capacity building and training for cattle farmers and herders, and engage extension officers and services into the sector.

It is time, we take seriously the issue of grazing reserves and safe documented cattle routes for the entire region. Finally, the need for modern abattoirs is upon us; we must have a robust meat processing industry in the region, that is effectively linked to the leather and hide processing industries that create value added products such as shoes, belts and hand bags, among several others.

By implementing these strategies and recommendations, northern Nigeria can begin to harness the gains of agricultural value chains, improve the livelihoods of its people, reduce insecurity in the region, and set itself up as a development hub for the nation Nigeria.

The ball is in our court.