By Ayomide Ayano
Over the years, Nigeria has always been
dependent on oil as the main source of foreign exchange. Hence, there is an
urgent need to reduce reliance on petroleum by looking into other lucrative
sectors.
In a recent report by the world bank which was titled
“Fragile Recovery”, it was disclosed that “in the 1960s, when Nigeria was a
major producer of palm oil, cocoa and rubber, agricultural exports generated
about 75% of its foreign exchange earnings. Taking a cue from its history,
agriculture is again expected to play an important role in Nigeria’s growth
story”.
With no reasonable doubt, one can say
that agriculture is a great contributor to the economy of the country as well
as a big solution to some of the challenges in Nigeria. Statistics have shown
that 80% of
the land mass in Nigeria is considered good enough to support crop planting
activities. In other words, the land area amounts to about 82 million hectares.
Why then have we relegated this thriving sector to the background?
It should be recalled
that during an economic summit in 2016, Lagos State governor, Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode called on the Federal Government to revive the economy by not
only focusing on oil production but on Agriculture as well, adding that
agriculture was a major source of revenue for government before petroleum took
over.
Apart from being revenue
to the government, the agricultural sector can help create jobs for thousands
of Nigerians. It is important to note that the high rate of unemployment has
become an issue of concern as this is beginning to threaten national security.
Thus, the agricultural sector has the largest potential to deliver the
employment target by the present administration.
Reports have shown
that as at 2010, the agricultural sector alone was employing about 30% of the
population. Although, it is not the largest sector of the economy, the figure
increases on a yearly basis as young people are now delving into agriculture as
an alternative after leaving school.
However,
transportation could be a major challenge in the agricultural sector. Food and
cash crops get decayed in farms because roads are not too good to transport
these products. Therefore, it is important that the government and other
relevant agencies initiate policies that will help revitalize the agricultural
sector.
The president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Mrs. Nike
Akande recently disclosed that lots of efforts have been made in repositioning the
agricultural sector. She stated that some innovative approaches are
required to position the agricultural sector as the springboard for local raw
materials.
According to her, “To consolidate on the progress we
are currently seeing in the sector, I will advance the following suggestions:
review and reform, land use issues to boost large scale agriculture with the
bigger picture aimed at establishing land banks, strengthen Bank of Agriculture
( BOA) with a rolling scheme of intervention companies, inclusive transformation
initiative in the sector and creation of linkages with processing industries,
address the menace of herdsmen across the country through adoption and
implementation of ranching system”.
