Food importation: Attending to Nigeria’s paradox via mechanised agriculture

The call for the full embrace of agriculture has been one of the reoccurring subjects in recent times. The resonance of the call has most recently increased, particularly in the face of deepening economic recession which has left the socio-economic atmosphere of the Country in a state of shambles. The erosion of the value of Naira and the weakening of purchasing power have continued to raise chains of disturbances with stiffening effects which have heated the polity.

The rise in food inflation has been a major subject which has had its turn of discourse among disturbing socio-economic matters attracting major concerns presently. The sharp rise in the prices of food staples well over 200 per cent between January 2020 and January 2021 reflects nothing but deficiencies calling for utmost attention. It is well pathetic that Nigeria’s potential to attain the status of food self-sufficiency has been a dream still far away from sight. It is lamentable that while the Country is buoyant enough in resources to be a leading giant in export of agricultural produce, she is still suffering from the gaps of food insufficiency. The import of food among other agricultural produces which readily can be produced on the Nigerian soil, has remained a deficiency that speaks ill of the  Nigerian economy. The demeaning impacts this portends to the economy is one of the debilitating narratives that directly and indirectly affects the course of economic growth. The impacts of imports of agricultural produce which can easily be produced in Nigeria abundantly, remains a draining source that emaciates the Country’s reserves.

In a disclosure that calls for concern, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono on Tuesday mentioned that the Country in the last four years has imported wheat worth no less than N2.2 trillion. The Minister who stated this during the Kano Wheat Farmers Field Day organised by the Flour Milling Association Of Nigeria held at Dambatta Local Government Area, was quoted: “In the last 4 years, Wheat worth about 2.2 trillion Naira was imported, but we have put in place measures to increase wheat production so as to reduce the import bill. There is need for availability of seeds and creation of small scale industries through massive investment in the wheat value chain in order to reduce the importation of the cereal.”

It is a paradox that Nigeria with all the overriding potentials has not attained self-sufficiency in staples such as wheat. The enormity of all resources needed to drive virile productivity in agrcultural produces beyond domestic needs to export purposes, is evidently incontestable. The shortfalls of the prevailing conditions therefore betray every reasonable thought of the level of agricultural productivity in the Country and the potentials within her disposal.  The lacuna that comes to bear finds deep roots in the years of loss of interest and priority to developing agricultural productivity in Nigeria. The neglect of the sector by successive governments has evidently presented its woes before the Country. It is paramount that trippling efforts be mustered by the present Government towards the course of developing the agricultural sector to a state of virile productivity that transcends sastisfying domestic demands to export lines of trade. The preponderance of the subsistence profile of agricultural productivity in the Country is a state the Country should have outlived. The traditional methods of farming that dominate agricultural practice in the Country is unrealistic to achieve any meaningful record of food self-sufficiency.

Talking of appreciable export on the basis of building strong pillars for the economy, is a facade in the regard of the prevailing practice which bears strong hold on traditional agricultural practices. It is essential for the Government to demonstrate full-fledged commitment towards reforming the state of the agricultural sector in the Country. The need for a redirection of the working practice is essential. It is apparent that the prevailing traditional driven production lines must be jettisoned for a mechanised driven agricultural sector, if food self-sufficiency and the prospective perception of diversifying the economy by agriculture would be achieved. Hence, it is imperative that the Government embark on active collaboration with stakeholders in the sector to take into perspective, pressing matters of the sector that demand utmost attention. This is essential to address the prevailing challenges confronting farmers across the Country, while using such as the basis to inform policy directions towards strengthening the sector in the long run. It is quite instructive therefore, that the perceived paradox finding expression in the acute food shortage in the Country and the attendant importation to cater for the deficits, be brought to the table of consideration with utmost attention.