The latest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report paints a picture of resilience and expansion in our agricultural sector. Amidst global uncertainties, our farmers continue to feed the nation, with “General Farming Activities” driving significant growth. This is a testament to the unwavering spirit of those who toil on our land.
Yet, behind these encouraging numbers lies a stark, often unspoken reality: many of our farmers in rural areas are struggling, living in silent distress, grappling with challenges that threaten their livelihoods and, by extension, our nation’s food security. It’s time we not only acknowledge their crucial role as economic drivers but also empower them through strategic agricultural transformation. And when we talk about strategic transformation for Nigeria, especially for food security, we must turn our attention to two unassuming giants: cassava and potato.
The Powerhouses: Cassava and Potato
Why these two crops? Because they are more than just staples; they are blueprints for resilience, economic empowerment, and national food transformation.
Cassava: The Drought-Resistant King
Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava. It’s a crop deeply embedded in our culture and cuisine, known for its incredible hardiness and ability to thrive in poor soils and during periods of drought.
Food Security Buffer: Its resilience makes it an indispensable buffer against unpredictable weather patterns, a critical factor in our changing climate.
Versatile Value Chain: Cassava offers an astonishing array of products beyond gari and fufu. From starch for industrial uses (textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper), to ethanol as biofuel, and high-quality cassava flour for baking (reducing wheat importation), its potential is immense.
Job Creation: Developing a robust cassava value chain, including processing and manufacturing, will create countless jobs, both on farms and in rural industries, directly impacting the “silent dying” of our rural communities.
While often overshadowed, potatoes, particularly sweet potatoes, are nutritional powerhouses and offer rapid, high-yield harvests.
Nutritional Fortification: Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins, especially Vitamin A, crucial for combating malnutrition. Integrating them more widely into diets can significantly improve public health outcomes.
Quick Turnaround: Both sweet and Irish potatoes have relatively short growth cycles, allowing farmers to have multiple harvests within a year, ensuring a more consistent income stream and food supply.
Market Demand: There’s a consistent and growing demand for potatoes, both for direct consumption and for processing into snacks and other food products. Investing in improved varieties and storage can unlock massive potential.
From Silent Struggle to Economic Driver: Protecting Our Farmers
The CBN report’s positive outlook for agriculture underscores the sector’s potential. However, this potential cannot be fully realized if our farmers continue to operate under duress. To transform agriculture into a true economic driver, we must prioritize the protection and empowerment of our farmers.
1. Enhanced Security Measures: This is paramount. We need decisive action against banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder conflicts. Secure farming communities are the bedrock of food production. This includes robust community policing, effective intelligence gathering, and swift justice for perpetrators.
2. Accessible & Affordable Inputs: The high cost of quality seeds, fertilizers, and modern implements is a major barrier. Targeted subsidies, accessible credit schemes, and local production of inputs will reduce costs and improve yields.
3. Robust Infrastructure: Investing in rural roads, storage facilities, and processing centers is non-negotiable. Reducing post-harvest losses from 40-50% to manageable levels will significantly boost farmers’ income and food availability. This also encourages value addition right at the source.
4. Financial Inclusion & Support: Beyond loans, we need tailored financial products, agricultural insurance, and access to market information for smallholder farmers. When disasters strike, insurance can be the difference between recovery and ruin.
5. Research & Extension Services: Bridging the gap between agricultural research institutions and farmers on the ground is critical. Providing training on improved farming techniques, climate-resilient practices, and pest management will directly translate to higher productivity.
The Call to Action
The expansion recorded in the agricultural sector is a signal that with the right support, our farmers can not only feed Nigeria but also become a major source of economic diversification and export earnings.
Let us heed the silent cries from our rural areas. Let us invest wisely in the transformative potential of crops like cassava and potato. Most importantly, let us protect and empower the hands that feed us. Their resilience is our national strength, and their prosperity is the foundation of our food security.
Join AyosifamHub as we advocate for policies that truly uplift our farmers and transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
