‘Agric still at the same level in Nigeria’

What type of farming are you into? We are into crop and livestock production. We process groundnut oil as well. Basically, after harvesting our groundnut, we process it into oil in our mill. How do you market your farm produce and the oil? The market is seriously down because of the influx of various low […]

What type of farming are you into?
We are into crop and livestock production. We process groundnut oil as well. Basically, after harvesting our groundnut, we process it into oil in our mill.
How do you market your farm produce and the oil?
The market is seriously down because of the influx of various low quality imported vegetable oils in the market. Made in Nigeria vegetable oil is facing sales problems as a result of these substandard and fake products which are cheaper.
Have you been getting support from the government?
No. We are operating on our own, it’s self effort.
What sort of support do you require from government?
You see, for example, in civilised countries of the world where agriculture is done as business, their governments subsidises agriculture heavily. But here in Nigeria, it’s not so. Look at the budget, last year it was over N70 billion, this year it has dropped. The fertilisers, seeds and seedlings they are subsidising in this country, are they getting to the small farmers or the political farmers? There are other areas that need subsidy as well. Farm machinery and equipment can be subsidised for the farmers. There are modern machines in China and India, no matter how small; they can be used for mechanised farming. Let us stop using obsolete equipment and animals for farming. The farmers also need credit facility but how many of the farmers have Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to guarantee loans? How many farmers can run a suitable account for six months to one year before getting credit facility? Go to any bank to ask for agric loan today and they will tell you to do this and that. How many farmers can meet such conditions? They say go and form cooperatives, how many cooperatives have Certificate of Occupancy. I mean, it’s cumbersome. I think the government should really be serious about land reforms. I have not heard anything about the land reform committee again. The only asset the farmers have is their land. Let them use what they have as collateral security. In South Africa, district heads guarantee farmers who own land to take loans. There is no way the farmer can run away from his land. So, let our government look at the farmers land value.
Farming is becoming more lucrative but how can the youth be attracted to it?
I think people that still think farming is for the old people and illiterates, and that it’s not lucrative need to have a rethink. Farming all over the world now is a very lucrative business for everyone to embrace, because if you don’t farm, how do you feed? If there are no farmers, there will be no food and no good health.  So, farming is good. What we just need to do in this country is to discourage old methods of farming to encourage the younger generation.
How would you compare state of agriculture under the present administration with previous ones in the country?
As far as I am concerned, my assessment is that we are still at the same level. On paper, the present minister is doing fine, but as a farmer, I am not really seeing anything practically on the ground.
What will you advice the agric minister to do to convert his paper work into reality?
Let him discuss with the presidency and purely emphasis on good budget and land reforms, because our asset in this country is land. Let our land have value for us to use as collateral security for loans. He needs to focus more on projects and programmes implementation and monitoring. The minister should also place more emphasis on local production and collaborate with relevant agencies to block the influx of unapproved products into the country in order to encourage the small farmers and the big ones as well. If this is done, I tell you, very soon, Nigerian farmers will be among the best in the world.