Musa Aliyu, 55, regrets that although he has been farming all his life, he has remained a poor farmer.
He is among many rural farmers in Kogi who moved to neighbouring Edo to form cluster-farming communities with a view to benefitting from modern agronomic practices and access to farm inputs.
Aliyu attributes his plight to lukewarm attitude of some stakeholders towards modern agricultural methodology which, he says, hinders ability of rural farmers to access fertilisers and other inputs.
Analysts note that Aliyu’s case typifies the experience of many rural farmers who take farming as a way of life, but cannot be helped to become commercial agriculturists.
Mr Michael Onotu, a retired civil servant who manages a small farm in Okene, notes that Nigeria is blessed with resources to develop agriculture, but lacks capacity for modern farming.
Analysts agree that the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda is aimed at revolutionising agriculture and reinvigorating the morale of farmers to meet the nation’s food needs.
They say that the agenda may not achieve its targets if it is not supported by various stakeholders, especially non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the sector.
They note that NGOs are private outfits whose structure and activities are based on the initiative of individuals or institutions to complement government’s effort in good governance.
Mr Albert Alabi, an Abuja resident, says involving NGOs in the agriculture transformation programme will enhance government’s initiatives.
“Involvement of NGOs is necessary because they realise that no government can provide all the necessities of life for the wellbeing of its citizens,” he said.
In the same vein, Mr Ibrahim Anas, Executive Director of LOGADEF, an NGO, wants similar organisations and youths to be assist government in transforming agriculture for food security.
LOGADEF recently organised the “All Nigerian States and Local Government Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Trade Fair 2013” in Abuja.
“It was organised in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and supported by the Federal Government. It featured many farmers from many states and local government areas,” Anas said.
According to him, produce exhibited at the fair included yams, cassava, legumes, poultry products and agro-allied chemicals, among other agricultural equipment.
The Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, expresses optimism that the efforts of NGOs will go a long way in complementing federal government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
But critics have noted that besides organising agricultural fairs and shows, non-governmental organisations in the sector can do much more in the agriculture transformation agenda.
Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir, a farmer who exhibited produce at the fair, commended the role of NGOs, but urged them to further complement government’s efforts.
Dr Tunde Arosanyin, Financial Secretary of All Nigeria Framers Association (AFAN), says that NGOs can do better by going beyond organising trade fairs.
According to him, AFAN has taken steps to identify genuine farmers in various towns and villages, as well as collated reliable data on farmers across the country.
Arosanyin says that the association has helped government agencies to achieve success in data capturing of farmers through its farmer registration exercise.
He notes that registration of farmers and agro-allied produce dealers is a veritable way of assisting transformation in agriculture.
According to him, NGOs should serve as a link between government and farmers to ensure effective delivery of farm inputs and popularising new farm techniques and methodologies.
“When the value of agricultural produce is enhanced, the quality improves, patronage will increase; this will affect the price value and farmers will smile.
“It is only when these roles are played effectively that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the federal government will be meaningful to the life of poor farmers, and add value to national economy,” he said.
Experts in agriculture are of the view that Nigerian youths can be encouraged to organise themselves into community-based organisations to educate farmers on need areas and methodologies if they are trained.
They also agree that NGOs can be useful to farming communities through establishing more rural agricultural cooperative societies to provide access to loans without collateral for poor farmers.
Mr Mathew Ochu, a retired agriculture officer in Lokoja, thinks that such cooperatives will ensure that poor farmers also have access to other inputs that can enhance food production.
“I want to see many NGOs complementing government’s efforts in reviving agriculture extension services by going to rural farming communities to teach farmers modern techniques of farming, fertiliser application and food storage,” he said.
However, analysts hold the belief that farmers are among the most productive segment of the Nigerian population who deserve necessary assistance from government and non-governmental organisations to sustain food production and fight hunger.
Ahmed writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

 
Dada Ahmed