Post by Trade facilitator on Nov 15, 2020 15:38:42 GMT 1
Agriculture, though largely under-developed, is the most important sector to the Nigerian economy after oil. Nigeria has had and still has very laudable agricultural policies on exportation of agricultural products but, it is so unfortunate that we have not been encouraged over some decades.
Nigeria has 36 states and is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of about 170 million as of 2012 with over 70% of the population living on less than a dollar a day [watts 2006]. By the year 2050 the projected population will be 402 million making Nigeria the 4th most populous country on earth after India, China, and the United States [population 2012]. My question is how are we going to cope as a country if exportation is not encouraged as a source of relationship with other countries around the world? The facts remain that a time is coming where crude oil will fail us. The time is now to give full attention to exportation of agricultural products.
However, some countries, even in the developing world are already considering novel approaches to agribusiness but in Nigeria, our agricultural sector is facing numerous challenges with certain factors militating against successful exportation. Thus, for clarification and with the hope of providing solution by the federal government, the following are the factors militating against agricultural exportation in Nigeria:
Capital
High cost of production
Level of education of farmers
The role of the government
CAPITAL
One of the most crucial factors militating against the exportation of agricultural products is capital. Capital is needed to set up and put every needed resource for exportation in place in order to sustain productivity. This implies that most farmers are not able to afford a lot of infrastructural and other facilities that they need for maximum productivity, to worsen the whole situation, loan facilities are hardly available thus, most farmers would have to limit their production.
HIGH COST OF PRODUCTION
Majority of mechanized farm tools are not easily affordable for an average farmer. Therefore, the government needs to reduce the high cost of production / standard living so that every farmer can produce enough products so that exportation can be made easy.
LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF FARMERS
It is open to every Nigerian that the majority of our farmers are very low in education wise. A study carried out in Osun State has found that education level had a significant and positive relationship with average production. In other words, what that really means is that the higher the educational level of farmers the higher the knowledge they have about agricultural exportation.
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The failed policies of the government are most of the times inimical to the progress of agricultural exportation. In the developed world, farmers have access to modern technology such as telecommunication facilities and affordable internet. All of this actually helps in addressing emergencies in the course of exportation of products. The role of the government must be activated if we want better results towards exportation of products in the agricultural sector.
The development of agricultural exportation is of serious importance for it will empower the youths thereby improving the national economy. Therefore, in order to achieve all these, the militating factors listed above must be addressed at all stages and levels by entrepreneurs, the government and the entire national communities in Nigeria. And I can vividly assure us that addressing these factors will guarantee a better and a sustainable economy and food security for every citizen and even announce us globally.
Nigeria has 36 states and is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of about 170 million as of 2012 with over 70% of the population living on less than a dollar a day [watts 2006]. By the year 2050 the projected population will be 402 million making Nigeria the 4th most populous country on earth after India, China, and the United States [population 2012]. My question is how are we going to cope as a country if exportation is not encouraged as a source of relationship with other countries around the world? The facts remain that a time is coming where crude oil will fail us. The time is now to give full attention to exportation of agricultural products.
However, some countries, even in the developing world are already considering novel approaches to agribusiness but in Nigeria, our agricultural sector is facing numerous challenges with certain factors militating against successful exportation. Thus, for clarification and with the hope of providing solution by the federal government, the following are the factors militating against agricultural exportation in Nigeria:
Capital
High cost of production
Level of education of farmers
The role of the government
CAPITAL
One of the most crucial factors militating against the exportation of agricultural products is capital. Capital is needed to set up and put every needed resource for exportation in place in order to sustain productivity. This implies that most farmers are not able to afford a lot of infrastructural and other facilities that they need for maximum productivity, to worsen the whole situation, loan facilities are hardly available thus, most farmers would have to limit their production.
HIGH COST OF PRODUCTION
Majority of mechanized farm tools are not easily affordable for an average farmer. Therefore, the government needs to reduce the high cost of production / standard living so that every farmer can produce enough products so that exportation can be made easy.
LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF FARMERS
It is open to every Nigerian that the majority of our farmers are very low in education wise. A study carried out in Osun State has found that education level had a significant and positive relationship with average production. In other words, what that really means is that the higher the educational level of farmers the higher the knowledge they have about agricultural exportation.
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The failed policies of the government are most of the times inimical to the progress of agricultural exportation. In the developed world, farmers have access to modern technology such as telecommunication facilities and affordable internet. All of this actually helps in addressing emergencies in the course of exportation of products. The role of the government must be activated if we want better results towards exportation of products in the agricultural sector.
The development of agricultural exportation is of serious importance for it will empower the youths thereby improving the national economy. Therefore, in order to achieve all these, the militating factors listed above must be addressed at all stages and levels by entrepreneurs, the government and the entire national communities in Nigeria. And I can vividly assure us that addressing these factors will guarantee a better and a sustainable economy and food security for every citizen and even announce us globally.
