Why Agricultural Programmes Can Fail In Nigeria

There are many challenges facing Nigeria's agricultural sector in Nigeria. Recent reports indicate a concerning trend of agricultural programmes failing to meet their intended objectives. Despite government investments and initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring food security, the sector continues to struggle, leaving many farmers disillusioned and vulnerable.

The import substitution and export promotion policy failed in the 1970's. Under the Obasanjo administration the Operation Feed the Nation Programme was introduced by the Federal Military Government. The focus was that of increasing food production on the premise that availability of cheap food would ensure a higher nutrition level and invariably lead to national growth and development. It failed.

This was followed by the Green Revolution (GR) Green Revolution (GR) which was inaugurated by Shehu Shagari in April 1980. The programme aimed at increasing production of food and raw materials in order to ensure food security and self sufficiency in basic staples. The importation of food increased in spite of the Green Revolution Programme. The Programme failed.

One of the challenges plaguing agricultural programmes in Nigeria is the lack of proper implementation and monitoring mechanisms. Many initiatives are marred by corruption, mismanagement of funds, and a disconnect between policymakers and farmers on the ground, leading to inefficiencies and poor outcomes.

Another is inadequate infrastructure such as poor road networks, limited access to markets, and unreliable power supply further hinder the success of agricultural programmes. Farmers often face challenges in transporting their produce to market, resulting in post-harvest losses and reduced profitability.

The impact of climate change is also exacerbating the woes of Nigerian farmers, with erratic weather patterns, droughts, and floods affecting crop yields and livestock production. Despite the urgent need for climate-resilient farming practices, many agricultural programmes have yet to effectively address this critical issue.

Another significant factor contributing to the failure of agricultural programmes in Nigeria is the lack of access to finance and credit for smallholder farmers. Without adequate funding and support, farmers struggle to invest in modern farming techniques, quality inputs, and machinery, limiting their productivity and competitiveness.

Furthermore, the youth are increasingly disinterested in pursuing careers in agriculture, viewing it as unprofitable and labor-intensive. The failure of agricultural programmes to attract and retain young talent further exacerbates the sector's challenges and threatens the future of food production in Nigeria.

To address the systemic failures in Nigeria's agricultural sector, urgent reforms are needed at both the policy and implementation levels. There is a critical need for increased transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that agricultural programmes are effectively designed, implemented, and monitored.

For the past decade and a half, huge amounts of money has been disbursed under Agriculture loans to States. These loans have been diverted and unaccounted for. Nigeria has towed this trajectory for a long time. The nation faces cost of living crisis because of past failed attempts at agricultural revolution.