How to end Nigeria’s food crisis — Agriculturalist
Dr. Philip Olanrewaju Eniola is an agriculturalist and the Executive Rector of The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State. Eniola, who also heads the Department of Agricultural Technology at the polytechnic, discusses the root causes of Nigeria’s current food crisis in this interview with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI
What are the factors driving Nigeria’s current food crisis?
The primary factor is the farmer-herder crisis. Corruption also persists as a significant issue. Additionally, a particular plant, Hyptis suaveolens (pigweed grass), has been invasive across various regions including Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Kwara, and Oyo states. While this plant isn’t edible for cattle, it competes with natural pasture, leading herders to encroach on farmlands for grazing. This competition exacerbates tensions between farmers and herders, exacerbated by water scarcity due to ongoing climate change.
Addressing Hyptis suaveolens scientifically could mitigate violence, alongside transitioning from outdated cattle-rearing methods to intensive systems requiring government support due to their costliness. This shift would reduce cattle roaming and community disturbances, thus alleviating food security issues.
Also, annually, between May and June, Nigeria faces tomato and pepper shortages. To overcome this, the government could assist landowners in establishing greenhouses, allowing year-round production by controlling weather variables. Much arable land in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, remains underutilised, especially for rice cultivation, yet lacks adequate processing facilities, prompting continued reliance on rice imports.
While vegetable oil imports have ceased, local production requires encouragement through enhanced processing capabilities to reduce costs and mitigate food shortages. Furthermore, the cashew industry in Nigeria’s savannah belt presents opportunities for economic growth if local processing industries are developed. Currently, raw cashews are exported, depriving the country of value-added benefits and employment opportunities.
In conclusion, addressing these factors through improved agricultural practices, enhanced processing capacities, and strategic investments can mitigate Nigeria’s food crisis and foster economic stability.
What policy measures do you believe the Nigerian government should adopt to enhance food security?
Nigeria should decentralise the provision of capital and make more funds available to rural community farmers. This is because we often read in the newspapers that the government has allocated certain millions of naira to boost agriculture, especially as grants to farmers. However, much of that money doesn’t reach the rural farmers. Therefore, the Nigerian government should decentralise how funds are made available to rural farmers and equally encourage those interested in green farming. This would help tremendously.
The government should also support those who keep cattle so that they can continue to be productive. This will help reduce the need to import milk and meat. Additionally, the government should consider implementing state police, which people are clamouring for. This could help reduce issues like kidnapping and insecurity on our farms.
How has the recent economy and political climate impacted food security in Nigeria?
We have had a longstanding problem with subsidies; therefore, the Federal Government’s policy to remove petrol subsidy is understandable because of its long-term positive impact. However, as of now, the effect has not been felt, and the government needs to take decisive action to ensure that the fuel supply issues, especially concerning refineries, are addressed. There have been instances where Dangote raised concerns about certain groups attempting to hinder refinery operations, and shortly after, there was a fire incident at his factory. I don’t know if there is a connection between the two. However, unless we resolve the fuel crisis, it may be difficult to find a way out of these challenges. We must solve our fuel supply problem because it is important for the distribution of food items and the cost of food.
How can advancements in technology and innovation contribute to resolving Nigeria’s food crisis?
Without technology, we can’t progress. We need to use technology to solve certain problems because people are no longer willing to manually weed or maintain their farms. Therefore, if we can develop machines that people can operate, it will reduce labour hours, leading to greater efficiency and significantly help address food insecurity in the country. Most of the nations doing well in mass food production use modern technology for farming, not manual labour.
How can farmers adopt more sustainable agricultural practices to enhance productivity?
To improve farming productivity sustainably, we need to empower our agricultural extension agents. Policies supporting agricultural extension services are crucial, as these agents play a vital role in introducing new technologies to farmers. By employing more extension agents and providing them with training and necessary tools, they can effectively reach rural farmers and help train them in the use of modern farming techniques. They would also educate farmers on the benefits and advantages of adopting new methods and explain why such changes are beneficial. This approach will encourage farmers to embrace new technologies and enhance agricultural productivity.
Can you provide examples of technological advancements that have made a difference in Nigerian agricultural production?
There are quite a few technologies that have helped make farming easier. For example, we use mowing machines like the slasher machine in our cashew plantations instead of employing people, especially since the farm spans over 1000 acres. Additionally, cassava processing machines have been adopted by rural communities through cooperatives, enabling them to process cassava locally rather than transporting it to urban areas. So, technology has been helping farmers to be more productive.
How critical is education and training in addressing food security challenges?
Well, the quality of education we received at university back then is not what the students are getting nowadays due to the lack of adequate funding. We lack the equipment and personnel to properly train the students. When we teach them in class, we are not the ones who instruct them practically because we lack the tools needed for practical teaching. Therefore, we focus more on theoretical knowledge. Instead of applying what they learned in university, most students look for quick ways to earn money. I believe the government should address this issue; it is very important.
What opportunities do you see for young men and women in the agricultural sector?
There are plenty of opportunities for youth and women in the agricultural sector if we put certain things in place to encourage them. We should make agriculture enticing and less stressful for our youth and women. Once they see these opportunities, they will be encouraged to get more involved in farming, and the nation will benefit from it.
We also need to embrace smart climate farming practices to mitigate weather-related challenges. Together, we can build something tangible so that we can generate more income from agriculture.
What exactly is responsible for food price hikes?
Tomatoes and peppers are among the costly foods right now. However, just three weeks ago, a basket of tomatoes was sold for N120,000. This price is not affordable for many households, especially considering that a bag of rice costs about N69,000, a congo of beans now sells for N5,000, and a bag of yam flour is about N280,000. These prices are beyond the reach of the poor. It is the lack of planning in the agricultural sector that is causing food price hikes. We must plan better. We cannot continue like this if we want to tackle food insecurity.
Where do you see the future of agriculture in Nigeria in the next ten years?
If we do not address the security issues in Nigeria, it will be very challenging to engage in farming in the next decade. Resolving the farmer-herder crisis within this timeframe is crucial for sustaining agricultural practices in the country. We must tackle this challenge so that farmers and herders are able to operate productively without conflicts.
What specific actions would you recommend the government take to address the food crisis in Nigeria?
The government should declare an emergency on the farmer-herder crisis, promote green farming, intensify efforts to enhance intensive cattle production, and provide capital relief to rural farmers. Immediate action is needed on these, including the establishment of state police and the creation of processing factories across the country to facilitate the easy processing of farm produce. If all these measures are taken, tackling the food crisis in Nigeria will be far easier.
What role does sustainable farming play in combating climate change?
Sustainable farming significantly contributes to combating climate change because many farmers focus on immediate needs rather than considering the future.
Embracing sustainable agriculture involves reducing external inputs and disallowing excessive use of genetically modified foods, which some people advocate for in the country. Implementing these measures would help improve agriculture in Nigeria.
