Problems of Agricultural Programmes in Nigeria
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The Agriculture sector in Nigeria has huge potentials that have not
been fully harnessed. The sector has in fact gone through various
phases of development that involved policies and agricultural
programs. Every policy and agricultural development in Nigeria are set
up with the aim of increasing the impact of the sector on national
development. Different governments have gone on to initiate several
agricultural policies and programs to ramp up agricultural
productivity in Nigeria. An agricultural programme entails a
comprehensive plan that includes the aims and objectives to be
attained in the agricultural sector, the resources required and other
activities to be performed in order to achieve certain goals in the
agricultural sector. The use of agricultural programs as a tool to
achieve productivity in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era and
even many more programs have been set up after that. In spite of all
this, it is generally accepted that Nigerian agriculture is
underdeveloped. These programs have different nomenclatures but
generally have the same objectives such as:
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Provision of food
for the inhabitants of the nation
To achieve food security and sufficiency
To boost foreign exchange via the export of excess agricultural
produce to other countries
To provide rural dwellers and farmers with support and other
development services.
This article addresses the problems of agricultural programs in Nigeria.
Problems of Agricultural Programmes in Nigeria
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Read on below:
Non-involvement of stakeholders
In order to achieve a successful agricultural program, there need to
be adequate relations among all stakeholders (agencies, ministries,
and private bodies) from the moment of planning through to the
implementation of the programmes. Often times, researchers, experts
and most importantly farmers in rural areas are usually ignored during
the process of planning agricultural development programmes. This
should not be so because these ones are in better positions to give
advice and recommendations that will help formulate programmes that
will meet the specific needs of the farmers.
Weak agricultural policies
Regional agricultural policies are often inconsistent with national
policies. It is important that state and national stakeholders relate
properly so that agriculture policies and programmes would work
harmoniously and not against themselves. It is only when this happens
that we can ensure the success of agricultural programmes. The
strategies, targets, goals, and specific objectives of an agricultural
programme should also be well defined and spelt out to ensure its
success.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Inadequate monitoring and evaluation of programmes
Often times, proper evaluation of the program is not done to determine
if the purpose of the program is achieved. Agricultural policies and
programs need to be properly monitored and evaluated to ensure its
effectiveness.
Lack of access to funds
Most agricultural programs depend on the disbursement of loans to
farmers. However, most of these farmers complain about not being to
access these funds. This is sometimes due to the inability of some
farmers to form co-operatives which then makes them unable to
participate in the program. Agricultural programmes in Nigeria need to
be backed up with increased financial assistance and provide means for
farmers to access such funds.
Non-continuation of Agricultural programs
Often times, when a new government comes into power, they discard
whatever policy or program the previous government had to go. For
example, with the National Accelerated Food Production Programme
(NAFPP), the federal government abruptly withdrew funds because of the
introduction of another programme called Operation Feed the Nation.
The previous program then ceased to exist. We need to ensure
continuity and continual implementation of previous agricultural
programs by the future government in order to see the full and
positive impact on the economy. Most governments are eager to have a
new program or initiative to their name and thus discard old ones even
when the new one set up is just the same as the old one. This is a
major hindrance to the success of agricultural programmes in Nigeria.
Inadequate preparation
Many agricultural programs in Nigeria have failed because due research
was not done before it was embarked upon. Under the Operation Feed the
Nation (OFN) program of 1976, farming was done on any available piece
of land, not minding whether it was suitable for agriculture or not.
Many participants in the programme also had little or no background in
farming. There were also no formal or informal preparatory classes
given to participants on how to manage their farms. Most farmers
practiced mono-cropping instead of mixed cropping, relied on hired
labour to carry out their farming activities, which resulted in a high
cost of input and did not match the output. Still, under this program,
there was an abundance of food in the market which did not match the
demand because many people produced most of the food they consumed.
These are problems that plague many agricultural programs in Nigeria.
The lack of access to markets has remained a persistent problem that
has made the idea of farming and local investments less appealing.
National agricultural programmes should be selected based on a
well-researched structure that will be sustainable and achieve
national agricultural development.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Delay in the execution of agricultural projects
Often times, projects involved in agricultural programmes are not
executed on time. This then affects the cost of execution due to
factors such as inflation. Often times, the projects are then
abandoned.
Mismanagement of funds
Often times, agricultural projects are not properly monitored, which
then leads to a waste of funds.
Shortage of fund
Often times, funds are not guaranteed due to factors such as a fall in
revenue generation due to decline in oil prices. Shortage of funds
leads to a myriad of other problems such as the inability to purchase
the necessary equipment needed. A shortage of funds also leads to a
delay in the implementation of agricultural projects.
Corruption
The poor quality of infrastructures in the agricultural sector can be
traced to embezzlement and mismanagement of fund to be used for the
purpose of the program.
Lack of modern storage facilities
Unfortunately, the majority of farmers in Nigeria still make use of
the crude method of farming. Storage facilities and farming equipment
have not improved much. This leads to losses and less output than
should be. Lack of infrastructural development leads to stagnation in
the agricultural sector.
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(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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'https://nigerianfinder.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action:
'mts_view_count', id: '291086'}); });
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The Agriculture sector in Nigeria has huge potentials that have not
been fully harnessed. The sector has in fact gone through various
phases of development that involved policies and agricultural
programs. Every policy and agricultural development in Nigeria are set
up with the aim of increasing the impact of the sector on national
development. Different governments have gone on to initiate several
agricultural policies and programs to ramp up agricultural
productivity in Nigeria. An agricultural programme entails a
comprehensive plan that includes the aims and objectives to be
attained in the agricultural sector, the resources required and other
activities to be performed in order to achieve certain goals in the
agricultural sector. The use of agricultural programs as a tool to
achieve productivity in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era and
even many more programs have been set up after that. In spite of all
this, it is generally accepted that Nigerian agriculture is
underdeveloped. These programs have different nomenclatures but
generally have the same objectives such as:
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Provision of food
for the inhabitants of the nation
To achieve food security and sufficiency
To boost foreign exchange via the export of excess agricultural
produce to other countries
To provide rural dwellers and farmers with support and other
development services.
This article addresses the problems of agricultural programs in Nigeria.
Problems of Agricultural Programmes in Nigeria
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Read on below:
Non-involvement of stakeholders
In order to achieve a successful agricultural program, there need to
be adequate relations among all stakeholders (agencies, ministries,
and private bodies) from the moment of planning through to the
implementation of the programmes. Often times, researchers, experts
and most importantly farmers in rural areas are usually ignored during
the process of planning agricultural development programmes. This
should not be so because these ones are in better positions to give
advice and recommendations that will help formulate programmes that
will meet the specific needs of the farmers.
Weak agricultural policies
Regional agricultural policies are often inconsistent with national
policies. It is important that state and national stakeholders relate
properly so that agriculture policies and programmes would work
harmoniously and not against themselves. It is only when this happens
that we can ensure the success of agricultural programmes. The
strategies, targets, goals, and specific objectives of an agricultural
programme should also be well defined and spelt out to ensure its
success.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Inadequate monitoring and evaluation of programmes
Often times, proper evaluation of the program is not done to determine
if the purpose of the program is achieved. Agricultural policies and
programs need to be properly monitored and evaluated to ensure its
effectiveness.
Lack of access to funds
Most agricultural programs depend on the disbursement of loans to
farmers. However, most of these farmers complain about not being to
access these funds. This is sometimes due to the inability of some
farmers to form co-operatives which then makes them unable to
participate in the program. Agricultural programmes in Nigeria need to
be backed up with increased financial assistance and provide means for
farmers to access such funds.
Non-continuation of Agricultural programs
Often times, when a new government comes into power, they discard
whatever policy or program the previous government had to go. For
example, with the National Accelerated Food Production Programme
(NAFPP), the federal government abruptly withdrew funds because of the
introduction of another programme called Operation Feed the Nation.
The previous program then ceased to exist. We need to ensure
continuity and continual implementation of previous agricultural
programs by the future government in order to see the full and
positive impact on the economy. Most governments are eager to have a
new program or initiative to their name and thus discard old ones even
when the new one set up is just the same as the old one. This is a
major hindrance to the success of agricultural programmes in Nigeria.
Inadequate preparation
Many agricultural programs in Nigeria have failed because due research
was not done before it was embarked upon. Under the Operation Feed the
Nation (OFN) program of 1976, farming was done on any available piece
of land, not minding whether it was suitable for agriculture or not.
Many participants in the programme also had little or no background in
farming. There were also no formal or informal preparatory classes
given to participants on how to manage their farms. Most farmers
practiced mono-cropping instead of mixed cropping, relied on hired
labour to carry out their farming activities, which resulted in a high
cost of input and did not match the output. Still, under this program,
there was an abundance of food in the market which did not match the
demand because many people produced most of the food they consumed.
These are problems that plague many agricultural programs in Nigeria.
The lack of access to markets has remained a persistent problem that
has made the idea of farming and local investments less appealing.
National agricultural programmes should be selected based on a
well-researched structure that will be sustainable and achieve
national agricultural development.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Delay in the execution of agricultural projects
Often times, projects involved in agricultural programmes are not
executed on time. This then affects the cost of execution due to
factors such as inflation. Often times, the projects are then
abandoned.
Mismanagement of funds
Often times, agricultural projects are not properly monitored, which
then leads to a waste of funds.
Shortage of fund
Often times, funds are not guaranteed due to factors such as a fall in
revenue generation due to decline in oil prices. Shortage of funds
leads to a myriad of other problems such as the inability to purchase
the necessary equipment needed. A shortage of funds also leads to a
delay in the implementation of agricultural projects.
Corruption
The poor quality of infrastructures in the agricultural sector can be
traced to embezzlement and mismanagement of fund to be used for the
purpose of the program.
Lack of modern storage facilities
Unfortunately, the majority of farmers in Nigeria still make use of
the crude method of farming. Storage facilities and farming equipment
have not improved much. This leads to losses and less output than
should be. Lack of infrastructural development leads to stagnation in
the agricultural sector.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
jQuery(document).ready(function( $) { $.post(
'https://nigerianfinder.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action:
'mts_view_count', id: '291086'}); });
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