Abdulmalik Adetola Lawal
Since assuming office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched various initiatives to address Nigeria’s agricultural challenges, with the goal of controlling food inflation and enhancing food security.
However, Nigerians are no strangers to government agricultural programs. For example, the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP), launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2015 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, aimed to boost local farm production by providing loans and inputs to small-scale farmers.
While 4.67 million farmers benefitted from the program, it disbursed N1.1 trillion over nine years, during which Nigeria still spent about N11.6 trillion on agricultural imports. The program has since been halted, with the Central Bank still trying to recover N450.90 billion from farmers. This raises concerns about the likelihood of full repayment and shifts public attention to the current government’s recent interventions.
In July 2023, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency to address rising food prices and shortages. Despite this, food inflation has risen from 24.61% in April 2023 to 37.77% by September 2024, a 13.16% increase, indicating that these efforts have yet to impact food prices.
After the emergency declaration, the National Security Council was tasked with overseeing food and water availability and affordability. The government also proposed redirecting savings from fuel subsidy removal to the agricultural sector, though no information has been released about any disbursements so far.
The government introduced additional measures, such as releasing fertilizers and grains to farmers, and fostering collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources to improve irrigation. Furthermore, it promised to strengthen security for farmers, although it has yet to provide clear strategies on this issue, leaving many farmers still vulnerable to attacks.
Alternative transportation methods like rail and water were also suggested to reduce freight costs, but these options remain unutilized. Not all promised measures from the president’s July briefing have been fully implemented, which has exacerbated food price hikes and agricultural sector challenges.
As part of the emergency response, the president directed the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across Nigeria and pledged to supply 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings, and other inputs to farmers.
Additionally, N50 billion each was allocated for cultivating 150,000 hectares of rice and maize, and 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava. Some of these initiatives have seen progress; the Central Bank of Nigeria donated 2.15 million bags of fertilizer worth N100 billion to support farming, and in February 2024, the federal government released 4,200 metric tonnes of grains to curb food prices.
President Tinubu’s achievements in agriculture include the introduction of a Dry Season Farming Initiative on 500,000 hectares, funded by the African Development Bank, which will enable year-round farming through irrigation and storage facilities. A partnership with John Deere will provide 2,000 tractors annually for five years through the Bank of Industry, supporting the mechanization of Nigerian agriculture. Another $1 billion partnership with Brazil will supply machinery, equipment, and training to farmers, while a Japanese agency is expected to contribute N141 billion for agricultural projects.
While these interventions have the potential to bolster Nigeria’s agriculture and economy, the government must learn from past mistakes, such as the ABP’s politicization and ineffective farmer outreach. Instead of relying on agro-dealers, the government could revive the Gross Enhancement Scheme (GES), which effectively connects farmers to programs through Agricultural Extension Agents. Streamlining bureaucracy and engaging stakeholders and agricultural associations in policy planning will also be essential for effective implementation.
Despite the administration’s efforts, its impact on food inflation and food security remains limited. However, if managed effectively, these interventions could yield positive results for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.