How farmers, others fared at the 2013 National Agric Show

In Nigeria, agricultural shows were not being given serious attention in the past by the government, private sector and even farmers themselves. However, few years ago, a group known as the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, NAFN, thought it wise to organize agricultural shows annually in the country so as to bolster interest in farming […]

In Nigeria, agricultural shows were not being given serious attention in the past by the government, private sector and even farmers themselves. However, few years ago, a group known as the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, NAFN, thought it wise to organize agricultural shows annually in the country so as to bolster interest in farming and related activities.
The foundation, chaired by former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who doubles as the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, has since then staged seven national agricultural shows at kilometre 28, Tudun Wada in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The yearly event has attracted exhibitors and participants from various parts of the country since inception and up to the 2013 edition, which held November 4-7.
The show was preceded by a seminar where stakeholders in the sector gathered at the conference hall of the agricultural show ground to brainstorm and proffer solutions to major challenges in Nigerian agriculture. Thereafter, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, declared the event open and inspected the exhibition.
Many exhibitors, including state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, farmers’ groups, individual farmers, agricultural inputs producers and equipment manufacturers displayed a variety of products and services to buttress the fact that agriculture is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.   
Many of the exhibitors who attended the show said that the attendance this year was low compared to last year’s. An official who spoke to reporters under the condition of anonymity said the poor turnout was as a result of series of postponements due to Sallah and the participation of President Goodluck Jonathan along with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina in this year’s pilgrimage to Israel, among others.
Our reporters observed that states from the South East geopolitical zone did not participate in the national event, while from the South South, only Akwa Ibom State came with an array of agro products. Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states from the North-Central participated. Only Taraba State came from the North East, while Kano along with all 44 local governments and Katsina State came from the North West.
Participation from various agro-based associations across the country was encouraging as they came from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Oyo, Ekiti, Anambra, Borno, Ondo and Imo states and the FCT. Fadama III programmes from Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto and Osun states were also on hand to showcase their products.
Nine agricultural research institutes across the country also came with their new technologies and innovations alongside value added products of their respective mandate crops.
According to the agricultural show official who pleaded anonymity, the organizers did not receive any financial assistance from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture or any government agency, thus raising suspicion that politics might have come to play, especially since the chairman of the foundation, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu belongs to the New PDP.
Farmers who spoke to our reporters lamented that some of their colleagues could not come because the cost of getting a space was a bit high for them. “When you put the cost of erecting a stand – which the least is N25,000, and the cost of transportation, then you know that the show is indeed for big time farmers not peasant farmers like us,” Adamu Musa a member of the All Farmers Association, Nasarawa State  said.
For agriculture to be fully developed as business, such national events should be encouraged by all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. State and local governments should emulate Kano which came with not only their technologies and innovations but also their cultural troupe and all the 44 local government areas.
Like Dr. Shehu Bawa, Chairman of the Kano State delegation to the show said: “Whatever we are going to do to encourage agriculture in Kano State, we will do it and wherever a show like this is organized we will be there to defeat anybody that competes with us.” Bawa urged other state governments to emulate Kano State in terms of boosting agriculture.
The organizers should make effort to develop infrastructure at the exhibition ground. State and local governments all over the country should be encouraged to see the event as a national one  and a platform for networking between farmers, investors and agro-allied companies so that the interests of all stakeholders in the sector will be taken care of, and sustainable development in the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy attained.
This year’s National Agricultural Show with the theme, “Promoting Agribusiness Investment for Job and Wealth Creation and Sustainable Food Security”, was sponsored by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, who is adjudged Africa’s richest man.