Chris Otaigbe
Relative to the efforts or lack of it, of its predecessors within the last twenty years, the Muhammadu Buhari administration appears to be the one, comparatively, with a firm hand on the plough to till the nation’s economy away from oil dependency.
While, it would be fair, therefore, to praise the current President’s non-oil intervention policies, over three years down the line, the reality on ground raises reservations on the depth of thinking and the sufficiency of the of the effort that has gone into its interventions in the Agriculture sector.
After a privileged inspection tour of the Lagos-Ogun border, with the Presidential Taskforce on Movement of Vehicles carrying Agricultural Produce and the visit to the Rice Farm Project by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) at Itoikin, the dots began to connect, for me. It began to dawn on me why government’s interventions in the Agriculture industry may not have been well thought out.
Although the seriousness of the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s determination to diversify the economy away from oil commenced with the large-scale program that included the Anchor Borrowers project, the importance and the advantage available to its participants became more vivid with the shutting down of land borders across the country.
Designed to protect the Nigerian farmer and other non-agro manufacturers, the closure of the borders was meant to encourage local producers to gain leverage on the large domestic market which has been feeding foreign economies for decades, to the detriment of the nation’s economy.
Comparatively, it remains, perhaps the most ambitious diversification intervention initiative by any administration in the country till date. To this extent, therefore, the Buhari government deserves some level of commendation.
However, the reality on ground shows that despite all the campaign and publicity invested on the innovation, the whole intervention scheme could be said to have under-achieved and at best, could be adjudged tokenistic. Unfortunately, even the little gains that would have been achieved were negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which struck the country in the first quarter of the year.
In order to curb the spread of coronavirus, certain anti-Covid-19 Lockdown measures were adopted and announced by President Muhammadu Buhari. Some sectors were exempted including inter and intra State movement of agricultural produce. However, the sector still encountered hitches as bad eggs among security Agencies hindered its operations.
Following reports that some unscrupulous and overzealous security personnel were disrupting movement of agricultural produce, the Federal Government set up the Joint Technical Task Team on the Emergency Response to Covid-19 on the Challenges of Movement of Food and Agricultural Inputs in the country.
Their terms of reference included:
1. Work with relevant Agencies in the States and Local Government Areas to develop a window that will facilitate the free and unhindered movement of food, livestock and agricultural inputs without compromising the security and health of the nation;
2. Issue out clear instructions to all the security personnel in the three internal security outfits of Police, Civil Defence and the Army on the need to allow the free and unhindered movement of foodstuff, livestock and Agricultural inputs to all parts of Nigeria;
3. Work with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to adequately educate its members in ensuring that vehicles conveying foodstuff, livestock, and agricultural inputs (excluding passengers) are allowed to pass.
4. Ensure that adequate information clarifying the controlled movement of foodstuff, livestock, and agricultural inputs is disseminated by the media to food transporters and security personnel.
Inaugurated on May 7, 2020, the Task Force had its maiden inspection a fortnight later on May 21.
According to Dr. Qazeem Akinreti, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Team visited the Kara axis of the Lagos-Ibadan border.
There they experienced, first hand, the hindrance to free movement of Trucks conveying foodstuffs and dealt with the issue immediately leading to the easing of the gridlock created by some overzealous security personnel.
Lagos State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Akeredolu Olayinka, said the idea of the inspection was to find out how the movement of the vehicles are managed, its challenges and what the Team can do to rectify the problem.
“We observed that some articulated vehicles, Trucks were turning at that bend, turning to return to the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The DCP was with us at the time and we discussed with them not to allow those vehicles to turn at that end because when they turn, there, movements of other vehicles are hindered. And sometimes, vehicles breakdown on junction…” she said.
While there, the Team was also fortunate to see a truck breakdown on the junction of the Kara road, which, Mrs. Akeredolu said, caused some traffic gridlock on the road.
Speaking on the experience they had on that outing, Dr. Qazeem Akinreti said the Team went to Kara to have a feel of the free movement of vehicles, particularly those on the essential services list and they saw the enormous challenge faced by the trucks especially those bearing foodstuffs.
‘On that day, too, the Provost Marshal arrested security Agencies aiding and abetting illegal movements. It was interesting to see those who were cogs in the wheel of movements and some security personnel that were arrested. We also used the opportunity to sensitise the Truck Owners, Drivers and the people themselves, about the need to ensure free movement of vehicles…” he said.
According to him, there are two other borderlines they would need to visit before the Taskforce can do a general assessment. “They are Toll-Gate, which is the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway axis of the Lagos-Ogun border and Itoikin at Lagos-Ikorodu expressway. …” said the NUJ President.
One of the challenges they encountered was trucks that had both animals and passengers mixed together, coming from the North. “We told them it was not hygienic and safe for their own health and that of the general public.” Said Akinreti.
However, the NUJ Chairman insisted that things have to change in the country as it concerns traffic management, free movement of essential services vehicles and so forth. Passing that same road, they had inspected as a Taskforce had visited, he found himself spending close to three hours in traffic on his way to join the Team for the second inspection.
Lagos State Agric Ministry representative, Mrs. Akeredolu, confirmed the mixing of human beings with animals in one truck, adding that the Presidential Directive stipulates that every livestock or foodstuff-bearing truck is allowed a maximum of seven Passengers.
Baring his thoughts on the second outing, the Lagos AFAN Chairman, Otunba Femi Oke said the situation is a lot better and the free movement of Agric produce has improved. “I believe the easing of the lockdown has contributed in addition to our sensitization of the Security Agencies, the Drivers and the people along the border-line.
Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alh. Kayode Odunowo, also confirmed that vehicles now have freer and unhindered movement. The problems the trucks experienced before the Presidential Taskforce began its inspections have been cleared through the intervention of the Team.
Members of the Task Force chaired by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos State Police Command, Hakeem Odumosu, comprised the CP’s representative and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Oqua Effiom Etim, Chairman, DCP Ops, Yomi Faniyi, Lagos State Chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Otunba Femi Oke, the Managing Director, Metro Lagos, Niyi Bello among others.
Their second inspection took them to Ita Oluwo axis of the Lagos-Ogun border where traffic appeared relatively peaceful and flowing enough for the unhindered movement of trucks conveying Agric produce among others on the list of exempted services during the inter-State lockdown.
However, among the vehicles violating the lockdown was one that was led by an arms-bearing Policeman. He was promptly apprehended by DCP Etim and summarily dealt with to send a stern message to his colleagues that the Force will not tolerate bad eggs in their fold.
With little or nothing more to do at the border, the Team returned to base, satisfied its mission had been accomplished.
In a related development, Tuesday, June 10, 2020, I went to see the Rice Farm Project developed by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) at Ikorodu. The Border closure order by the Federal Government inspired the farmers to acquire their own land to plant rice as their own contribution to bridge the domestic consumption gap and fill the vacuum left by the Federal Government’s directive.
According to the Lagos State chapter Chairman, Otunba Femi Oke, the 50-hectre farm was an asset the farmers came together to farm in order to have a substantial amount to support government’s initiative to encourage local production of the commodity. Although, the other farm belonging to the body, located at Igbo-nla is manually operated, the Itoikin farm is mechanized. “But we have only been able to plant just about 30,000 hectares for now, because of the rain, as you know, this is our season…” He said.
Soon Lagos State will be coming out with its own Rice Plantation at Imota, also in Ikorodu. Otunba Oke noted that the State government will be needing paddy to aid their planting.
“That is why we are working hard on our plantation to be able to provide the government with the Paddy that would be needed for the planting of the State’s version… In another three to four months, we should be preparing for the harvesting of the rice.” Said Otunba Oke.
After the Federal Government shut the border to enable local producers to supply Nigerians with local rice, for example, it was reported that some unscrupulous businesspersons would re-bag local ones as foreign rice and then sell it at a higher cost.
Responding to the allegation, Oke denied the involvement of his members in such deals, but went ahead to explain, “Those people are taking advantage of Nigerian’s penchant for anything foreign. Those bad people will buy the rice from us and then go and re-bag them to sell in the market, at a higher price, as foreign rice.” He explained.
But Oke insisted that despite that challenge, the border closure impacted positively on local production as many farmers made huge success out of the Federal Government’s directive. Unfortunately, according to him, Covid-19 came and virtually reversed all that gain.
The State AFAN Chapter Vice Chairman (and sub-chairman, Rice Commodity under AFAN), Shakin Agbayewa, spoke about the rationale behind AFAN’s involvement in Rice Production.
He said the body considered the huge economic benefit to both the country and the farmers before taking the plunge in the Rice Plantation. “We took a look at the Haulage, Printing, Bagging, Packaging, processing, Transportation and other Logistics accruable from the opportunity and decided it was a worthwhile venture for farmers to explore.” Said Agbayewa.
According to him, importation of rice into the country filled a seven million tons domestic consumption, which he admitted is too large a field for AFAN Rice to absorb. Fortunately, Agbayewa said, Lagos State government’s Imota Rice Plant would also help in filling that gap. Still, he maintained, there is need for more hands to plough the land for rice in order to bridge the gap, “because there is a shortfall of over 3.5 million tons which AFAN alone cannot fill…” he said.
He further said all farmers need from the State government is to provide massive lands to farmers and plough them so that farmers can access the land easily for planting.
“Clear the bush for us and give every one equal opportunity with access to at least a hectare, seedling, planting etc. under your platform as government in collaboration with AFAN, you will see the wonders that would come from it to the benefit of the general citizenry and the country at large.” Said Lagos AFAN Vice Chairman.
The second request, the Vice Chairman made was directed at all Nigerians with government support, supervision, coordination and direction, is for “all Nigerians to come on board.
Kenya is the highest exporter of Has Pear in Africa because the government asked every Kenyan to plant a Has Pear in their homes. When everybody pulls together their individual yield, it comes to a lot… enough to make the country self-sufficient and with more than enough to make them the highest producer of the commodity.” He said.
Echoing his Vice, the State Chapter Chairman said being a staple food and a regular on the table of every family in Nigeria, rice is a very viable commodity that would benefit those who can come into the business. “An average of four to five eat rice and so it is a business you can never regret investing in.” he advised.
Explaining what food sufficiency calendar year can look like for an average family, Secretary to the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Ekiti Chapter, Tunde Adeyemi, said with or without a formal Garden or Farm, an average family, wherever they live, can plant certain crops. Using himself as an example, Adeyemi said where he spent most of his growing-up years in Lagos, had no farm.
“We had to get soil to stuff in bowls, buckets, plastic in order to plant some of our foodstuffs. Although, they may not have been enough to take care of all of our food needs, it definitely reduced cost of buying foodstuffs, for us.” Said the Ekiti State RIFAN Secretary.
To have a sufficient farm space for an average family, he prescribed a one-hectare land space. “On that one hectare, you will have everything you need. You begin the calendar-planting year with vegetable. Pepper, tomatoes, okra are the vegetables we normally buy the most in the market. They take a maximum of one month to harvest. From there, we can now talk of the bigger crops such as rice, yam, beans… Most of us may not be able to plant any of these three, but we can definitely plant cocoyam, which is one crop that takes you throughout the year. So, instead of planting yam, plant cocoyam so you will harvest next year January/February next year because that is when food scarcity will come, not this year.” He said
He however said rice is more complicated. According to him, a farm for planting rice may require more than one hectare and one has to be able to cover the field with a net to protect the farm from preying birds and rodents. “But you can plant maize, cassava to take care of your family and also with what you have, you can engage in a barter trade with neighbours who may also be engaged in farming.” He said.
He explained that among the many grades of Rice seedlings, the AFAN body chose the Nerica 8 grade for its plantation.
Apart from ensuring free movement of vehicles conveying agricultural produce and support for farmers planting/harvesting those produce, there is a need for government to play a far deeper role it is playing today.
For instance, just giving the farmers money as credit, loan or by whatever name the intervention comes, is no longer enough. Government will do well to help farmers acquire, process and prepare the land for planting. From AFAN’s experience, it became clear that they had challenges clearing the land for planting. This is a task that would have been easily taken care of by bulldozers, planting machines among others.
In other words, there is a need for government to mechanize farming in Nigeria, fully and not via lip service.
In AFAN’s case, the FG could easily send a list of machines that would help the body plough, plant and harvest with minimal stress for optimal yield. With such support, government can influence the price of foodstuffs in the market and ensure there is food sufficiency in the land.
If there is to be food security in the country, the method being adopted by government may not yield the desired objective except relevant Government Agencies become active partners in the entire value chain.
