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| Credit: NDTV |
Two days ago, our Honorable Minister for Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh met with the 36 states governor at the International Conference Centre, Abuja and without mincing words, the Minister reiterated the opportunities available to farmers, if they could invest in 11 exportable cash crops, since they were in high demand in, Europe and America.
The Minister who announced emphatically during the meeting said "about 11 cash crops that are much sought after globally and which are in abundance in Nigeria could comfortably take this country out of recession. The crops are cocoa, cashew nuts, pulses (Pidgeon pea), palm oil, yam, cassava starch, ginger. Sesame seeds, gum Arabic, rice, grains, goats, cattle.
Although he divulged that he wasn't naming the crops in any particular order, Ogbeh disclosed that yams which now sell for $16 a tuber in the United states is also in high demand in foreign markets. Other much sought after crops according to the minster include cassava starch, maize, millet, palm oil, cashew nuts and Pidgeon tree".
I am a bit baffled at the Minister's comments. This is coming at a time, when the presidency warned that Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer of cereals and grains, risks famine from early next year (January, 2017) following a huge demand in the global market targeting the country’s surplus production.
Giving the grim forecast in a radio interview in Kano on Monday, a spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, told Pyramid radio that the “huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the mindless export of Nigerian food across our borders and unless this is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of grains by January next year.” Check Premium Times of November 15, 2016 (Presidency warns of impending famine in Nigeria).
There are warnings of impending farming in some Northern Nigeria states, with over 400,000 children at risk of famine. This is not a case for the minister to consider. Unlike what the Spokesman of was critical about, putting an end or reducing the exportation of our grains, the minister is going about advocating for export of our limited agricultural produce.
I naturally would expect that all efforts by the Minister and his technical team would be to stem the tide and address this imminent famine and hunger, which is being stimulated by low production, due to lack of irrigation, storage facilities, improved crop varieties and animal breeds; and aggravated by the influx of foreign agric produce merchants.
Don't get me wrong, food export is fantastic. It is much better, when we have added value to it. But one of the reasons for the depletion of our foreign reserve, is due to the high demand for Naira for agric products/produce being imported, to cushion the effect of the shortfall in our local production. Do we not have the capacity to produce what we import? It is wrong to assume that Nigeria cannot feed itself.
In terms of land, people, water, dams, lakes and beautiful weather to rear all kinds of animals and cultivate all varieties of plants, we are abundantly blessed. Despite this, we continue to live in both physical and mental poverty.
Of all the produce mentioned by the Minister, cocoa, cashew nuts, pulses (Pidgeon pea), palm oil, yam, cassava starch, ginger. Sesame seeds, gum Arabic, rice, grains, goats, cattle; more than half are stable foods of Nigerians and they are currently lacking in Nigeria.
Garri: Formerly a food for the common man, is not very scarce with demand outweighing supply, thereby forcing the price to shot-up. Gone are the days when we hid our garri from people. Today, we "soak" garri with pride.
Palm oil: An alternative to groundnut oil which was considered a premium commodity in the past, is an essential cooking condiment. Palm oil is now unreachable to the ordinary Nigerians. Less than one litre bottle average N800 in the open market today. We now import palm oil from neighboring countries.
Rice: This used to be the most commonly consumed staple food of Nigerians. It was the best food for Nigerians, especially those from humble background. Today, it is exclusively for those who can afford it, as it shots up, to over 120% in 6 months. It is likely to increase as we approach Christmas and the new year. This Christmas, many families may seek for an alternative to rice, a tradition they were used to.
Grains: Maize is an essential ingredient in poultry feeds. Today, the cost has increased astronomically, forcing many poultry farmers out of business. Don't be surprised to hear that we now import eggs, oranges, etc from neighboring Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Goats: Research has shown that goat milk is more nutritious than cow milk. It has also been proven that many Nigerians suffer from inadequate protein in their meals. A recent research by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) says "12 million children under the age of five are stunted due to malnutrition from protein deficiency" check Daily Times of August 12, 2016.
With the above worrisome developments, one would expect that the Minister will "lobby" Mr. President to increase the Ministry's budget in line with the 2003 Maputo declaration of 10% of total national budget to agriculture, and also activate his advocacy skills to promote local production and consumption, rather than continue to promote export, at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians, who are at the risk of survival due to poverty and hunger in the year 2017.
I am Adeniyi Philip Ayoola
@ayo116
@adeniyi.ayoola
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