‘Naira Redesign, Flooding Bane Of Agric In 2022’

The Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) says the redesigning of the Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), excessive rainfall, and flooding worsened the challenges facing farmers in the country in 2022.
Consequently, the Governors described 2022 as a nightmare to most farmers in the country.
NGF in a statement said the challenges occurred in spite of the amount of fund allocated to agriculture in the year.
The Governors also lamented that many families found it difficult to feed three times a day due to the challenges, resulting in families resorting to taking cuisines they hardly took.
The statement, titled, “Nigerian Agriculture In 2022: The Ups And Downs”, was signed by the Senior Agricultural Adviser to the NGF, Prof Abba Gambo.
Noting the losses suffered by farmers due to the flooding, the NGF said, “The rains came much more than NiMET’s forecasts, leading to serious flooding across the country, affecting 34 out of the 36 states, with the FCT least affected.
“The floods led to massive loss of lives, livestock, properties and farmlands. The much-expected harvest in most states became a mirage. Jigawa State, being the most affected,” it added.
According to the NGF, while expectant farmers were waiting for palliatives after the flooding, the CBN announced a redesign of the naira note, stating clearly that by January 31, 2023, the present naira in circulation would cease to be a legal tender.
“Almost immediately, huge sums of money entered all the major markets of the country. Grains, most especially, were mopped up to the last grain in the markets.
“A bag of millet selling for N8,000 rose to N35,000, sorghum from N12,000.00 to N40,000, rice rose to N45,000.00 per 50kg, even for the locally-produced and milled.
“The year 2022 was a great nightmare for most farmers in Nigeria. To feed three times a day became a huge challenge to most families and new cuisines entered Nigerian homes.
“Indeed, 2022 was a tough year for the agricultural sector, but yet the sector contributed 23 per cent to the national GDP in the Q3 of the year, surpassing oil and gas, manufacturing and telecommunications.
“We pray for a most benign and pleasant raining season in 2023 and an increment in the agricultural budget of all the three tiers of government”, the statement said.