Agricultural expert Africanfarmer Mogaji has called for immediate government intervention, enhanced farmer education, and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices to address Nigeria’s growing food security challenges.
In a recent interview, Mogaji highlighted the need for targeted actions to improve agricultural productivity, address security issues, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He discussed the role of innovation and government support in overcoming the challenges farmers face. In response to a question about the effectiveness of government initiatives for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture, Mogaji provided a balanced perspective.
“Some SMEs genuinely feel excluded from government support, and their concerns are valid.”
“However, many small-scale and micro farmers have benefitted from government-provided resources like fertilizers. Some SMEs have even received significant fertilizer supplies directly from the government.”
He noted that lack of action from some SMEs leads to missed opportunities.
“Many SMEs fail to apply for these resources. Without a formal request, there’s nothing to process. That’s why I take a neutral stance on this issue.”
Mogaji further emphasized that accessing government resources can be straightforward.
“A simple letter to the Minister of Agriculture can suffice. Some individuals received support just by taking a chance and applying.”
When asked about the focus on tangible resources like fertilizers and tractors, rather than on farmer education, Mogaji pointed to the neglect of agricultural training.
“Training and capacity development are vital for achieving food security in Nigeria. The focus tends to be on visible assets, but it is the intangible skills and knowledge that make those assets effective. Unfortunately, investment in agricultural education, especially in public universities and polytechnics, is lacking.”
He called for increased government subsidies and greater emphasis on agricultural production.
“The government needs to subsidize either inputs or outputs. Currently, we are facing a production crisis. In the past, marketing was the primary challenge, but now, we are simply not producing enough,” Mogaji noted.
Mogaji warned that without immediate federal support, food prices will continue to rise. “If federal parastatals aren’t funded promptly, the price of tomatoes could exceed ₦200,000 by mid-year. Federal authorities must focus on increasing productivity,” he cautioned.
Regarding security, Mogaji acknowledged improvements in northern Nigeria. “The security situation has notably improved under this administration.”
“However, beyond physical security, we must address the psychological well-being of farmers. Providing inputs alone is not enough; we need motivational efforts to restore farmers’ confidence.”
On the issue of climate change, Mogaji expressed concern about Nigeria’s preparedness. “We are not fully prepared to handle the impacts of climate change.
“While solutions exist, they are often overlooked. We need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, but the current approach remains predominantly commercial.”