Agricultural Policies in Nigeria – SS3 Horticulture and Crop Production Lesson Note (Second Term)

Agricultural policy is a set of rules, goals and plans made by the government to help farmers produce more food, earn more money and make sure no Nigerian goes hungry. Examples include Operation Feed the Nation, the Green Revolution, the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define agricultural policy.
2. State the aims of agricultural policies in Nigeria.
3. Name four major government agricultural programmes in Nigeria and state the year each began.
4. State the job of RBDAs, NALDA and the ADPs.
5. List the impacts of agricultural policies in Nigeria.
6. Describe the challenges that limit the success of agricultural policies.

Why do we need agricultural policies?

Agricultural policies give the country a clear plan for farming, in the same way a coach’s plan guides a football team.

• Fertile land: Nigeria has a lot of good farmland that can be put to use.
• Over-reliance on oil: For a long time the country depended too much on oil money.
• Farming as a business: Policies are the government’s way of encouraging people to return to the farm and treat it as a business.

What are the aims of agricultural policies in Nigeria?

The main aim of agricultural policy is to make the country able to feed itself and to raise farmers’ incomes.

• Food security: produce enough food for all Nigerians.
• Less food importation: reduce the money spent on imported food.
• Higher farm income: help farmers earn more from their work.
• Raw materials: supply crops such as cotton and cocoa to industries.
• Employment: create jobs for young people in farming and related trades.
• Foreign exchange: increase the export of crops such as cocoa.

What are the major government agricultural programmes?

There are four major programmes in this lesson: Operation Feed the Nation, the Green Revolution, the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), 1976

• Goal: get everyone to take part in farming.
• Who took part: even students and soldiers were encouraged to plant gardens.
• Lesson: Nigerians should not rely on imported food.

Green Revolution, 1980

• Goal: use science and technology to increase food production quickly.
• Support given: high-quality seeds, fertilisers and tractors for farmers.

Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), 2011

• Goal: treat agriculture as a business.
• E-Wallet system: farmers received alerts for subsidised fertiliser on their mobile phones.
• Benefit: the system was meant to reduce corruption in input supply.

Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), 2015

• Goal: link small-scale farmers with big companies called “Anchors”.
• Loans: the Central Bank gave loans to farmers to grow specific crops such as rice.
• Market: the Anchors promised to buy the harvest.
• Result: more “Made in Nigeria” rice is seen in the markets.

Summary table of the programmes

Which special agencies support agriculture?

The government created special agencies to do specific jobs for farmers.

• River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs): they manage water, building dams and irrigation systems for dry-season farming.
• National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA): it helps young people get cleared land that is ready for planting.
• Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs): they send Extension Officers to villages to teach farmers the latest techniques.

What are the impacts of agricultural policies?

The impacts of agricultural policies are the positive changes they bring to farmers and the country when they work well.

1. Food security: the country relies less on other countries for food, for example through more local rice production.
2. Job creation: many young people find work in the fields and in processing, packaging and transporting food.
3. Better technology: more farmers use improved seeds that resist drought and pests, from government research centres.
4. Rural development: big government projects often bring better roads and electricity to villages.

What challenges limit agricultural policies?

The main challenges are inconsistency, corruption, poor infrastructure and insecurity, which keep food prices high.

• Inconsistency: a new government may stop old plans and start new ones, which confuses farmers.
• Corruption: “ghost farmers” (people not actually farming) sometimes took fertilisers and loans meant for real farmers.
• Lack of infrastructure: without good roads, a large harvest rots on the farm before it reaches the city.
• Security issues: many farmers fear going to their fields, which reduces the food produced.

How can the challenges be reduced?

The challenges can be reduced by steady policies, honest management, better roads and safer farming areas.

• Continuity: new governments should carry on good programmes of the past.
• Proper records: list real farmers so that loans and inputs reach them.
• Rural roads: build and repair roads so food reaches markets fresh.
• Security: protect farming communities so farmers can work freely.

Why should a future agriculturist know these policies?

A future agriculturist should know these policies so as to use the support the government provides.

• Loans: programmes such as the ABP give access to credit.
• Inputs: subsidised seeds and fertiliser lower the cost of farming.
• Training: ADP Extension Officers teach improved methods.

Evaluation

1. What is agricultural policy?
2. State the year Operation Feed the Nation began and its main aim.
3. Name the four major programmes in this lesson and give one feature of each.
4. State one job each for RBDAs, NALDA and the ADPs.
5. List four challenges that limit the success of agricultural policies in Nigeria.

Assignment

Explain how the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme works, then describe any three impacts of agricultural policies in Nigeria.