Problems and Solutions of Agricultural Development in Nigeria

1. Land Tenure System:

Land tenureLand tenure means the act of acquiring land either by an individual, family, community or government, temporarily or permanently. It determines who can use land, for how long and under what... More simply means the ways of acquiring land in the societyThe term society is derived from the Latin word 'socius' meaning friendship or companionship. Society is a community, nation or group of people who share the same traditions, institutions, rules and... More. In Nigeria, most land is owned through inheritance which leads to land fragmentationLand fragmentation is defined as the division of land into discrete plots dispersed over a wide area but owned by a single household. In areas of high population density such as... More and cannot be pledged, sold or used as collateral by an individual. Population growth also affects the availability of land.

Land fragmentation can be defined as a situation where a farming household possesses several non-contiguous land plots, often scattered over a wide area. It is often viewed as an obstacle to agricultural productivity and modernization.

Solutions:

a. The land use Decree of 1978The land use Act of 1978 is a reform essentially aimed at encouraging proper, productive and efficient use of land. It abolished the existing land tenure systems and replaced them with... More should be fully implemented to allow individuals to own landed property, and use them for agricultural projects without fear of any embarrassment from the government.

b. Farmers should form cooperative societies for easy allocation of land.

c. Crop rotation should be practised by farmers.

d. Fertilizers and manure should be utilized to increase the production of crops in the available land.

2. Inadequate Finance or Credit:

Most subsistence farmers do not have the capital to acquire land, improved breeds of animals, plants and equipment.

Farmers also find it difficult to access bank loans because of a lack of collateral securities.

Solutions:

a. Government should provide agricultural loan facilities through Agricultural and cooperative Banks at low interest rates.

b. The government should also provide agricultural inputs at a subsidizedA subsidy is a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals, usually in the form of a cash payment or tax reduction. If something like food or petrol is... More rate for farmers.

c. Farmers should form cooperative societies for easy procurement of loans from commercial banks and other financial institutions.

d. Collateral securities should be in the form of guarantees rather than in material forms, like land and buildings.

3. Inadequate Basic Amenities:

Lack of basic amenities like electricity, pipe-borne water and proper health care makes able-bodied men and youth migrate from rural to urban areas in search of jobs.

Solutions:

a. Provision of electricity in the rural areas.

b. Provision of potableWater that is suitable for drinking. More and drinkable water.

c. Provision of standard healthcare centres.

d. Provision of good storage and processing facilities.

4. Inconsistent Government Policies on Agriculture:

Government policies and programmes are not stable as a result of changes in government.

Solutions:

a. Government should formulate policies that will favour actual farmers.

b. A census of actual farmers in Nigeria should be carried out regularly, for effective policy formulation.

c. All policies on agriculture should be fully implemented.

d. The government should formulate policies that will encourage private sector participation in agricultural development.

5. Unfavourable Climate Conditions:

An unfavourable climate affects all farm activities.

Drought or long seizure of rain will lead to low output. Excess rainfall or flood also reduces the photosynthetic ability of the plant.

Excessive sunshine causes abnormal temperatures for crops.

Solutions:

a. Teaching farmers new innovations in agriculture.

b. The government should provide irrigationIrrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. It helps grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation is usually used in... More and drainage facilities to farmers.

c. AfforestationAfforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was no recent tree cover. More is highly important to conserve soil and water.

d. The government should establish insurance policies to reduce risks in agriculture practices.

6. Inadequate Agricultural Education and Extension:

The rural farmer is largely non-literate, lacks agricultural education and is hardly reached by extension agents with agricultural innovations. He/She is culture-bound and fatalisticrelating to or characteristic of the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable, so one's choices and actions make no difference: More.

Solutions:

a. Training and employment of more extension agents.

b. Introduction of mass literacy programmes which will include agricultural education.

c. Provision of adequate equipment and logistic support to extension agents to enable them to function effectively.

7. Poor Marketing System:

No organized marketing channel for farm produce. Poor marketing of produce discourages more production.

Solutions:

a. Development of good marketing and pricing systems.

b. Development of adequate storage facilities, to ensure consistent availability of products, to prevent price fluctuations.

c. Commodity boards should be established to help organize the marketing of agricultural produce.

d. The government should buy excess produce from farmers.

8. Problems of Pests and Diseases:

Pests and diseases reduce the yield of the produce. They also reduce the quality of the produce.

Pests and diseases reduce the income of the farmers and sometimes discourage farmers from active production.

Solutions:

a. Use insecticides or pesticides.

b. Farmers should be trained on easy identification, prevention and control of pests and diseases.

c. Adequate and regular inspection of farms by extension agents.

d. Pest and disease control units or departments should be established to control pests and diseases.

9. Environmental Degradation:

Degradation of soil is largely due to poor soil conservation and management practices adopted by farmers. Such practices are continuous cropping and bush burning. These soils are exposed to erosion, and leaching of soil nutrients resulting in the decline of soil fertility.

Solutions:

a. Good knowledge of soil water conservation.

b. Application and use of fertilizer.

c. Avoid overgrazing, excessive burning, clean weeding, over-cultivation and cropping.

10. Inadequate Tools and Machinery:

Most farmers still practice agriculture with crude implements like hoes, cutlasses, and rakes. They cannot afford to use mechanized implements like ploughs, harrows, tractors, ridgers and planters.

Solutions:

a. Farmers should form cooperative societies to purchase essential machinery and implements.

b. Subsides in the form of loans and credit should be provided to the farmers to purchase machinery and implements.

c. Local researchers and fabrication should be encouraged to provide appropriate and adaptable machinery and implements.

d. Establishment of tractors – hiring units to make the machines always available to the farmers.

11. Rural-Urban Migration:

Leads to decreased production. Encourages scarcity of labour and results in high labour costs. Also leads to poor adoption of agricultural innovations.

Solutions:

a. Provision of social amenitiesSocial amenities, or public amenities, refer to places, buildings or infrastructural facilities which are to be shared and to become convergence spots for the local and surrounding communities. Examples include good... More in the rural areas.

b. Training of people on modern farming practices.

c. Provision of incentives to farmers in the rural areas.

d. Provision of favourable prices for farm produce by the government.

12. Inadequate Storage and Processing Facilities:

The technology adopted in Nigeria is traditional, which is drudgery, and time-consuming, coupled with a low output.

Solutions:

a. Development of appropriate technology.

b. Training of farmers on the use of facilities.

c. Provision of adequate storage and processing facilities.

d. Establishment of storage and processing industries by the government and private individuals.

13. Poor Transportation Network:

The presence of bad roads or total lack of it makes the distribution of products to market very difficult, and this leads to wastage. The cost of transporting goods is always high.

Solutions:

a. Reduction in transportation costs to make transportation affordable to rural farmers.

b. Regular supply of fuel.

c. Construction of good roads.

d. Provision of vehicles, boats and trains to facilitate the distribution of farm products.

14. Inadequate Farm Inputs:

Farm inputs like fertilizers improved seeds, tools implements, pests and drugs are very inadequate and costly.

Solutions:

a. Provision of adequate and sufficient farm inputs.

b. Farm inputs should be supplied at the right time to farmers.

c. Government should subsidize the cost of farm inputs.

d. Establishment of seed services units for the production of improved seeds to farmers.

Evaluation Questions: