Reviving the land: The urgent need for agric reform in the Age of Oil
Following the discovery of oil, agriculture has lost its esteemed status, and the focus on cultivation has waned. This shift is driven by entrenched beliefs suggesting that returning to the land is unnecessary.
We have leveraged the easy money from oil, which is easily exportable. However, our management of these funds has been questionable. Despite this, there is a persistent attitude that it is inconsequential, with the oil revenue not being invested wisely or effectively.
Meanwhile, while some developed nations are expanding their agricultural sectors and exporting to various countries, we continue to import a broad range of agricultural products from less developed nations, despite having the means and capacity to export our own food.
We neglect the fact that we must cultivate more land to support our burgeoning population. As a result, we are unable to achieve the desired outcomes.
The former glory of the northern agricultural pyramid, which included groundnuts, cotton, cocoa, and kola nuts, has faded into the past. We continue to lament and cry foul over our lack of understanding of how to address the nation’s various food-related issues.
Therefore, we refuse to look to the past to gain more agricultural knowledge, engage in the production process, help small-scale farmers grow more food, and achieve the results that will guide our nation towards a more sustainable future.
The detrimental effects of disregarding agricultural production
Market prices are rising to the point of crisis. Nigerians are unable to access seasonal and nutrient-rich foods when needed, and the once-famous groundnut pyramid has become a thing of the past.
The discovery of oil continues to dominate our thinking, while concerns about land cultivation are increasingly neglected. It is imperative that we return to the land, adopt low-tech agricultural technologies that will increase food production, and bring Nigerians back to farming. The sooner we achieve this, the better off we will be.
Highlighting issues in the agricultural sector
The truth is, our ancestors greatly valued agricultural practices. They worked tirelessly, day and night, and travelled great distances to market their agricultural products, mostly relying on rain-fed agriculture.
However, with advancements in technology, we now have the ability to produce food year-round using irrigation, motorised systems, and solar energy. We can also take advantage of our large population to engage in farming, improve living standards, and cultivate land more efficiently.
Yet, despite these possibilities, the pressing questions remain: Why are we unable to feed the nation’s large population? Why does the average Nigerian go to bed hungry, despite the vast amount of uncultivated land? Who is at fault, and what steps must be taken?
Steps to guarantee agricultural productivity in the country
The first step, in my opinion, is to continue the mechanisation of the agricultural sector and raise awareness about making agricultural practices highly profitable.
How can agricultural activities become profitable? By ensuring that the public is attracted to farming, providing land, and delivering the necessary inputs at the right time, resolving security challenges in farming communities, and connecting farmers with buyers to meet the increasing demand for agricultural products at all levels. This way, we can become exporters of agricultural products.
An increase in agricultural production will lead to a return on investment across the agricultural value chain. By researching and effectively managing the nation’s resources, we can avoid starvation and form partnerships that will ensure the care of peasant farmers, helping them yield the large quantities of food needed to feed the population.
Michael Adedotun Oke,
Project Facilitator, Talent Upgrade Global Concept, Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Plot 232 Kaida Road, Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria
maof2020@gmail.com
+23408027142077