Doubling-up investments to boost Agricultural research for sector virility
Investment in Agriculture has recently become a course of notation demanding strong attention in the discourse of the Nigeria’s economy profile. The narratives of the profile of Agriculture in Nigeria still attracts more of sympathetic consideration, than a formidable productivity which is the desideratum for the Country’s economy. As the reality of diversification has become so pronounced and non negotiable for the Country to survive the condition of wobbling inconsistencies which are products of the impacts of large dependence on oil and its attendant vagaries, agriculture has remained a central notation which readily bears the reckoning of recognition as a sector upon which the thrust of diversifying the Country’s economy would pragmatically find expression.
Although, the place of agriculture may not be disputed as a sector holding potentials across which the extension of the resting pillars of the economy can be stretch over, it is worrying that the sector still remains largely underdeveloped in the Country. The infantile profile of the sector, entangled with depths of facility deficits, has only rendered the agricultural potentials of the Country inconsequential to the base of the Country’s economy. Hence, its contribution to economic growth has remained largely insignificant to propel the level of growth needed to boost economic development in the Country.
As the waves of global oil prices have come to hit huge blow on the economy recently, the senses of the government appear to have been struck to awake to the reality of the dangers inherent in reposing all eggs in the basket of oil with the seated neglect of other sectors, particularly agriculture where the Country has potentials of comparative advantages. As the need to resuscitate the economy by diversifying the revenue base becomes more demanding, the pronounced significance of taking recourse to agriculture has become centralised. This is indisputable considering the depth of human and natural advantages at the disposal of the Country.
However, it remains apparent that the years of neglect have left huge gaps which call for depths of investment with strategic policy instruments backed with seasoned implementation structures to bridge the wide gap of raising agriculture as one pillar standing firmly among the bases upon which the economy can rest.
It is indisputable that the challenges the sector is presently ridden with, have over the years become so deep seated and far weightier than the ongoing investments channeled into it. Over time, issues of flooding, poor infrastructures, preponderance of crude implements in the production value chain, among others, are long seated challenges frustrating stakeholders in the sector. The poor state of government driven investment to develop mechanisation for large scale productivity, has made mechanised agriculture an unpurchased luxury in the Country.
Following Wednesday’s (22 December, 2021) meeting, it was disclosed, the Federal Executive Council has approved about N2.3bn for contracts in the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development. Briefing State House Correspondents following Wednesday’s virtual FEC meeting presided over by the President, Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, disclosed that Council approved two memoranda for the Ministry basically centred on research orientation. “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development today presented two memos to the Federal Executive Council. First is a memo seeking the approval of an award of contract to Agriculture Research Institute and agencies and two certified companies for the production and distribution of seeds and seedlings to farmers. The second memo is for the approval of th award of contract for the purchase of 1,014 of soil test kits and soil analytical laboratory equipment to National Institute of Soil Science at the cost of N278,858,163. The first memo is the cost of N2.16bn. This memo is, as I said, seeking Council’s approval for
our research institutes to produce seeds for farmers for next year’s farming season,” he was quoted.
On Saturday, the 27th November, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari was reported to have placed a challenge on universities of agriculture in the country to bridge the gap of food insecurity and address the nation’s dependence on imported foods. Buhari who was reported to have made the call at the 10th Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia, had said the specialised universities must play their crucial role in catalaysing the development of the agricultural sector, to help the Federal Government achieve its goal of sustainable green economy.Represented by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, he had said the government was looking up to the universities as lead drivers of the agricultural sector. It is no doubt that for such institutions to be at the fore front of propelling development in the sector, funding for researches and practicals is sine qua non.
The need for the Nigerian government to look into enhancing research focused solutions to the problems in the Nigeria’s Agriculture sector has become important to herald new frameworks of systemic responses to address the prevailing strains and shortages. While there are several other fundamental subjects such as security and huge deficits in infrastructure to address, it is pertinent that as it behooves the Government to address these issues, attention should not be turned off from the potency of the fruitings which such research would put forward to revitalise the productivity of agriculture in the Country. Hence the need to empower research institutions to delve into the strains for empirical and scientific studies into pragmatic solutions to address the acute challenge has become paramount as part of efforts towards mitigating the rising echoes of food crisis in the Country and hence move towards the height of diversifying the economy by a virile agriculture sector. Such new allocation for research endeavours as approved by FEC is applaudable, however, demanding more elaborate investment and the appropriate monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective implementation, as well as, to guide against infractions of corruption and administrative inadequacies.
