Post by Trade Coach on Jun 20, 2021 22:20:54 GMT 1
Why did various initiatives set up by governments over the years fail to solve the problem of famine and hunger in Nigeria?
Out of about 500 million small farmers in the world, only about 43 million of them have access to new technologies and tools that are meant for small farmers. Majority of those tools and technologies still end up in the hands of big farmers.
Over the years we have witnesses several governments set up initiatives to stimulate the agricultural sector and thereby improving production of agricultural commodities to tackle hunger and famine in the country.
But the situation continues to worsen, what is the problem, why has this matter defied solution proffered by many experts in the past; what are those things that our policy makers have failed to do?
These initiatives include:
Operation feed the nation (OFN)
Green Revolution Programme (GRP)
Lower River Basin Development Authorities (LRBDA)
National Agricultural and Land Development Authority (NALDA)
Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)
I will like to deeply look at the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), and maybe we will find what the problem had been. This agricultural programme was setup on 21st May 1976 by the General Olusegun Obasanjo regime that came to power after the death of Murtala Mohammed.
There was no doubt that the programme was by far one of the mostly publicized agricultural programmes in Nigeria.
Why was it launched in the first instance?
The government of the day looked around and decided to setup a project that will bring about increased food production throughout the nation.
The think-tanks believed that getting everybody involved will in the first instance make everybody personally responsible for his or her own food production and feeding.
They probably believed that by so doing people will take their feeding and well-being in their own hands and this will make them be serious about the situation.
The government through its numerous propaganda agencies in the country used their machinery to get to everybody to embrace the programme.
The propaganda worked as every available piece of land in urban and non-urban areas was cultivated.
What did the government do?
To back up the programme, the government made available inputs and subsidies that include – improved varieties of seeds and seedlings, agrochemicals, fertilizers, day old chicks, machetes, hoes and other implements freely to government establishments.(Note: Freely to Government establishments).
These strategies stimulated Nigerian public into farming, such as subsidized production input, increase in bank credit to farmers, establishment of commodity boards, and fixing of attractive prices for agricultural produce.
Why then did this programme fail, what happened, and why was government not able to salvage the sinking ship that it has sunk so much money and other resources into?
Below are the problems and causes of the failure of those brilliant strategies introduced by the government:
There was no formal or informal training of the people that were coming into the agricultural business
They relied heavily on equally inexperienced hired labour
Preference was given to powerful people in government agencies over the poor real rural farmers that are supposed to produce the goods
The programme partially succeeded initially to address scarcity of food as everybody has produced what he or she will eat, but it could not be sustained
The foundation was faulty and the building could not withstand the pressure any longer, it gave way and collapsed after sometime.
What is the solution to famine in Nigeria?
A recent survey has it that over 800 million people are suffering from hunger and starvation all over the world, so it is not only Nigeria that is facing the food crises.
The last economic recession caused a lot pressure on Nigeria; the number of families suffering from hunger has more than doubled.
Nigeria should as a matter of seriousness diversify its economy by making use of available small holder farmers scattered all over the country.
Statistics have it that over 80% of farms in Nigeria are small farms, and more than 90% of the farmers are small farmers. Therefore, to solve the problem of food security in the country the government needs to strengthen the small scale farmers.
The solution is not only empowering the small scale farmers but setting up monitoring units at the local level to take them through all the stages needed to bring their products from the cultivation time to harvest and sales.
One of the biggest problems faced in Nigerian agricultural value system today is logistics; without the government taking a critical look at it, nothing substantial will change.
Famers are doing their best, but the produce sellers are incurring so much loss from the farm gate to the urban centres and states where those products are actually needed.
We believe that the government needs to review the logistics infrastructure to tackle this problem holistically.
Stay with us as we continue to find solution to Nigeria’s food problem.
Remember to attend our regular seminars and training on export and import; get in touch with our admin for more information.
Out of about 500 million small farmers in the world, only about 43 million of them have access to new technologies and tools that are meant for small farmers. Majority of those tools and technologies still end up in the hands of big farmers.
Over the years we have witnesses several governments set up initiatives to stimulate the agricultural sector and thereby improving production of agricultural commodities to tackle hunger and famine in the country.
But the situation continues to worsen, what is the problem, why has this matter defied solution proffered by many experts in the past; what are those things that our policy makers have failed to do?
These initiatives include:
Operation feed the nation (OFN)
Green Revolution Programme (GRP)
Lower River Basin Development Authorities (LRBDA)
National Agricultural and Land Development Authority (NALDA)
Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)
I will like to deeply look at the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), and maybe we will find what the problem had been. This agricultural programme was setup on 21st May 1976 by the General Olusegun Obasanjo regime that came to power after the death of Murtala Mohammed.
There was no doubt that the programme was by far one of the mostly publicized agricultural programmes in Nigeria.
Why was it launched in the first instance?
The government of the day looked around and decided to setup a project that will bring about increased food production throughout the nation.
The think-tanks believed that getting everybody involved will in the first instance make everybody personally responsible for his or her own food production and feeding.
They probably believed that by so doing people will take their feeding and well-being in their own hands and this will make them be serious about the situation.
The government through its numerous propaganda agencies in the country used their machinery to get to everybody to embrace the programme.
The propaganda worked as every available piece of land in urban and non-urban areas was cultivated.
What did the government do?
To back up the programme, the government made available inputs and subsidies that include – improved varieties of seeds and seedlings, agrochemicals, fertilizers, day old chicks, machetes, hoes and other implements freely to government establishments.(Note: Freely to Government establishments).
These strategies stimulated Nigerian public into farming, such as subsidized production input, increase in bank credit to farmers, establishment of commodity boards, and fixing of attractive prices for agricultural produce.
Why then did this programme fail, what happened, and why was government not able to salvage the sinking ship that it has sunk so much money and other resources into?
Below are the problems and causes of the failure of those brilliant strategies introduced by the government:
There was no formal or informal training of the people that were coming into the agricultural business
They relied heavily on equally inexperienced hired labour
Preference was given to powerful people in government agencies over the poor real rural farmers that are supposed to produce the goods
The programme partially succeeded initially to address scarcity of food as everybody has produced what he or she will eat, but it could not be sustained
The foundation was faulty and the building could not withstand the pressure any longer, it gave way and collapsed after sometime.
What is the solution to famine in Nigeria?
A recent survey has it that over 800 million people are suffering from hunger and starvation all over the world, so it is not only Nigeria that is facing the food crises.
The last economic recession caused a lot pressure on Nigeria; the number of families suffering from hunger has more than doubled.
Nigeria should as a matter of seriousness diversify its economy by making use of available small holder farmers scattered all over the country.
Statistics have it that over 80% of farms in Nigeria are small farms, and more than 90% of the farmers are small farmers. Therefore, to solve the problem of food security in the country the government needs to strengthen the small scale farmers.
The solution is not only empowering the small scale farmers but setting up monitoring units at the local level to take them through all the stages needed to bring their products from the cultivation time to harvest and sales.
One of the biggest problems faced in Nigerian agricultural value system today is logistics; without the government taking a critical look at it, nothing substantial will change.
Famers are doing their best, but the produce sellers are incurring so much loss from the farm gate to the urban centres and states where those products are actually needed.
We believe that the government needs to review the logistics infrastructure to tackle this problem holistically.
Stay with us as we continue to find solution to Nigeria’s food problem.
Remember to attend our regular seminars and training on export and import; get in touch with our admin for more information.