Module 1 Revision ( PART 2)

RECENT POLICY DIRECTION TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The 7-point devt agenda of the Yar’Adua administration  was borne out of the vision 202020. The 7-point agenda evolved from synthesizing the NEEDS, CAADP, and NEPAD documents. The Food security and Land Reforms agenda relate to agric. devt. The food security component led to the formation of NSPFS, ATA and GES.

Pls avail yourself to learn more on the features and objectives of ATA programme. The present minister of agricultural, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is currently in-charge. You can find some information on this on pages 12-13 of the new GES 105 textbook 

The whole essence of the GES with respect to fertilizer distribution is to get the govt out of the fertilizer procurement and distribution  and leave it in the  hands of private sectors.

Abbreviations and their meanings

1.New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

2.Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

3.National Economic. Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS).

4.Agricultural Transformation Agenda(ATA)

5.National Special Programme for Food Security(NSPFS)

6.Growth Enhancement Support Programme(GES)

The Yar’adua’s 7-point agenda

POWER AND ENERGY – The infrastructural reforms in this critical sector through the development of sufficient and adequate power supply will be to ensure Nigeria’s ability to develop as a modern economy and an industrial nation by the year 2015.

FOOD SECURITY – This reform is primarily agrarian based. The emphasis on the development of modern technology, research, financial injection into research, production and development of agricultural inputs will revolutionalize the agricultural sector leading to a 5 – 10 fold increase in yield and production. This will result in massive domestic and commercial outputs and technological knowledge transfer to farmers.

WEALTH CREATION – By virtue of its reliance on revenue from non-renewal oil, Nigeria has yet to develop industrially. This reform is focused on wealth creation through diversified production especially in the agricultural and solid mineral sector. This requires Nigerians to choose to work, as hard work by all is required to achieve this reform.

TRANSPORT SECTOR – The transportation sector in Nigeria with its poor roads networks is an inefficient means of mass transit of people and goods. With a goal of a modernized industrialized Nigeria, it is mandatory that Nigeria develops its transport sector. The PDP government has already started this process by the ongoing rehabilitation and modernization of the railway. While the reforms might take some time to take effect, it is a need that must be addressed.

LAND REFORMS – While hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost through unused government-owned landed asset, changes in the land laws and the emergence of land reforms will optimize Nigeria’s growth through the release of lands for commercialized farming and other large scale business by the private sector. The final result will ensure improvements and boosts to the production and wealth creation initiatives.

SECURITY – An unfriendly security climate precludes both external and internal investment into the nation. Thus, security will be seen as not only a constitutional requirement but also as a necessary infrastructure for the development of a modern Nigerian economy. With its particular needs, the Niger Delta security issue will be the primary focus, marshaled not with physical policing or military security, but through honest and accurate dialogue between the people and the Federal Government.

EDUCATION – The two-fold reforms in the educational sector will ensure firstly the minimum acceptable international standards of education for all. With that achieved, a strategic educational development plan will ensure excellence in both the tutoring and learning of skills in science and technology by students who will be seen as the future innovators and industrialists of Nigeria. This reform will be achieved through massive injection into the Education sector.

STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

1) proper planning: It is commonly said that if you fail to plan then you  are planning to fail. There wont be desired increase in agricultural production  and consumption pattern if agriculture is left in the hands of market forces alone. Planning will show u the roadmap to achieving your desired goals and in this case the goal is to increase agricultural production

2) The government should play more active roles in facilitating and supporting agricultural activities as witnessed in the 1960-1969. Did u remember what I said concerning the 1^st era (pre-1970 era) that govt concentrated efforts on agric research, extension, export crop, marketing and pricing which were largely supportive

3) Self sufficiency strategies: achieving national food self sufficiency may trigger some trade-offs. Trade –offs can be likened to some compromise you allowed in other to reach your desired targets or goals. e.g increasing maize production may come only from new imports of fertilizer/machinery

4) increase in agricultural budgets . it is not  just increasing the budget but the release of the budget must be timely to synchronized with farm field operations.. it shouldn’t be the case of “medicine after death” 

5) investment in human capital: these would increase the skills of the farmers which on the long run would translate to higher production level

6) there must be complementary investment in other economic sectors such as investing in infrastructure and technological components which helps to drive agric production. You know why? Because agric does not exist in a vacuum. Even you as human being, you need others to survive

7) Social and environmental protection: the safety of lives and ensuring environmental sustainability are worthwhile goals in sustaining agric production. How can there be any meaningful devt when there is chaos/unrest/problems in any other facets, be it physical, economic, biological and/or geograghical?

8) encouraging private sector involvement with minimal govt intervention

9) one of the key strategies to increase agric production in Nigeria is to relieve the constraints associated with ownership and use of land

See you in next class when I will be discussing with you on the 3rd and concluding part of this module. Till then, drop your comments or questions with respect to this course.