Agriculture
From The Report: Nigeria 2017
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As Nigeria’s economy contracted in 2016, the country’s agriculture sector took on even more importance. Long touted as a remedy to the West African nation’s dependence on oil, agriculture is now seen as a potential economic saviour. Before hydrocarbons became the main source of economic growth and export revenue, agriculture dominated the local economy. A number of indicators have been stalled in a low-growth pattern for decades; however, they are now beginning to move in the right direction. Despite some challenges and a high food import bill, the agriculture sector continues to grow.

This chapter contains interviews with Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture; Rahul Savara, Group Managing Director, TGI Group; and Bukar Tijani, Regional Representative for Africa, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Fertile ground: In the face of lower global oil prices, agriculture is increasingly seen as a vehicle for economic growth and employment
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As Nigeria’s economy contracted in 2016, the country’s agriculture sector took on even more importance. Long touted as a remedy to the West African nation’s dependence on oil, agriculture is now seen as a potential economic saviour. Before hydrocarbons became the main source of economic growth and export revenue, agriculture dominated the local economy. Although Abuja is also keen to boost other sectors, such as ICT and manufacturing, there is now a greater urgency to the redevelopment…

Interview

Steps in the right direction: Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture, on government plans to boost production and increase trade
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Interview: Audu Innocent Ogbeh How effective has the e-wallet tool been in boosting the usage of fertiliser? AUDU INNOCENT OGBEH: It worked very well in the first two years – 2013 and 2014 – and then things got complicated. Invoices started coming in for supplies that were unaccounted for, and some people were taking products and fertilisers across the border to sell in Cameroon. From there, invoices started piling up. We inherited that debt and had to trim a lot of it down to a more manageable…

Analysis

Making it count: Constraints to lending are being removed, spurring growth in the sector
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As the government turns to the agriculture sector to boost economic growth, there is a greater emphasis on access to credit and financing for the industry. This stems from the awareness that more funds, in terms of both loans and grants, need to be supplied to the sector in order for it to reach its full potential. Adding Up Financing has been a consistent challenge for agricultural producers and processors in Nigeria. Traditionally, the commercial banking sector has been used as a primary…

Interview

Incentive to grow: Rahul Savara, Group Managing Director, TGI Group, on data gathering and access to finance
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Interview: Rahul Savara What are some possible solutions to the challenges facing the sector today ? RAHUL SAVARA: There is no doubt that data is a key enabler in every sector of the economy, and even more so in the agriculture sector. Information on market prices, good agricultural practices, weather and soil conditions, and fertiliser requirements are fundamental to running a sustainable and profitable operation in the sector. For the small farmer, data on sales prices is particularly important. Although…

Interview

Improving agriculture: Bukar Tijani, Regional Representative for Africa, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, on Nigerian farming practices
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Interview: Bukar Tijani What are some of the biggest challenges facing smallholder farmers in Nigeria? BUKAR TIJANI: Smallholders make up the majority of farmers in Nigeria. This type of farmer cultivates 2-3 ha of fragmented family farm holdings and operates at a subsistence level. They face many challenges, including low productivity, limited access to finance, lack of improved farm inputs and technologies for mechanisation, and limited advisory services. However, the greatest challenge is low…

Analysis

At the forefront: Transforming cassava into a lucrative cash crop has proven elusive, but plans are now under way to reshape the marketplace
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No single crop defines the Nigerian agriculture sector more than cassava. The nation is the world’s largest producer of this root vegetable. Yet despite its proficiency in production, Nigeria has not been able to turn this position into a substantial revenue generator. However, efforts to capitalise on this competitive advantage speak to renewed optimism in the sector. Untapped Potential In many ways, cassava is the standout crop in Nigeria’s agricultural industry. In 2013 the country…